Chapter 206: The Training of Two People (1)

Around the time someone willingly stepped through the gates of hell—

“Y-Young Cult Leader? Hyung hasn’t returned yet. What should we do?”

“Be quiet.”

“No matter how high the Heavenly Demon Founder stands, abducting someone so brazenly is still—”

“I told you to be quiet.”

At the subtle flow of murderous intent, So Cheon instinctively hunched his shoulders.

‘Why is her bloodlust like this…?’

It felt just like when he had stood before the head of the Murder Demon family.

So Cheon obediently watched Cheon Yura’s expression.

Though her face appeared calm, the dense murderous aura radiating from her was proof that she was anything but composed.

“Jin Yeomyung will be fine. The Founder wouldn’t have taken him for no reason.”

“I-I think it’d be more convincing if you didn’t say that with a face like you’re about to kill someone…”

No one would be convinced if you said something like that with the look of someone ready to devour a man whole.

As Cheon Yura paced nervously—

The Heavenly Demon Founder appeared before them.

Cheon Yura shouted like she had lost her mind.

“…Where is Jin Yeomyung?!”

“Ah, you needn’t worry. He’s currently training with one of my other incarnations.”

“Training… you say?”

“It seemed like it would get rather noisy, so I placed him in a different space.”

“…Phew!”

Only then did Cheon Yura’s expression relax.

Seeing that, the Founder smiled.

“You cherish your beloved deeply. If anything had happened to him, I suspect you would’ve charged at me without regard for your life.”

“That’s…”

Cheon Yura lowered her head in embarrassment.

“Young love is a wonderful thing. May I offer you one piece of advice?”

“I will gladly listen.”

“When love seems within reach, it’s best to seize it immediately.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“They often say love is like a burning flame. When you throw yourself into it, people soon become blind. They cast aside environment, personality, status, and wealth, becoming utterly irrational.”

“……”

“And so, many regret their past choices once the flame dies out.”

Why was the Founder saying such things?

As soon as Cheon Yura heard those words, she felt a deep resentment stir within her.

“I will not be like that.”

“Hahaha, many have said the same as you.”

At that, So Cheon, who was standing beside her, suddenly burst out.

“Then why are you telling her to act on it early? Are you telling her to regret it sooner?”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m merely speaking in general terms.”

The Founder’s smiling eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“There are, after all, situations where it’s extremely difficult to discard those very conditions I mentioned.”

“……!”

If one were to compare the positions of Cheon Yura and Jin Yeomyung, it was akin to royalty and nobility.

Thanks to Jin Yeomyung’s efforts, their relationship had become half-recognized, but—

Due to internal and external circumstances, it wouldn’t be strange if things were twisted again at any time.

“Especially since the two of you are destined to face the storm of fate, more so than anyone else.”

What if the Cult Leader had a change of heart and opposed their relationship?

Even if not, what if a war between righteous and demonic factions suddenly broke out?

Could one truly laugh and love amidst such an external storm?

“Once a bond goes astray, it might become impossible to recover it again for the rest of your life. Otherwise, one must pay an enormous price.”

Cheon Yura was speechless, so So Cheon muttered in complaint in her stead.

“Sounds like you’re telling her to just go for it.”

“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea.”

“…Excuse me?!”

It was hard to dismiss his words as nonsense, because his expression was entirely serious.

“If you mark your territory first, what can others say? It’ll be tough at first, but eventually people will just accept it.”

“……”

It was an utterly irresponsible, beast-like remark—but Cheon Yura couldn’t help but find the Founder’s words somewhat appealing.

However—

—Do not cross the line.

That was the teaching of her father, the Heavenly Demon, a man like the heavens themselves.

But now—

—Cross the line.

The Founder, also a Heavenly Demon, and no less than one of the sect’s highest authorities, was permitting her to do just that.

‘If both of them said different things… should I follow the Founder…?’

Had her father, the Cult Leader, heard that thought, he surely would have felt hurt. But she couldn’t help feeling more drawn to the latter.

‘Hmm…’

She suddenly became aware of the small porcelain vial tucked in her robes.

Still, there were things that made it difficult to easily choose the latter.

Truthfully, she had her own girlish sense of romance.

She had wanted to see a strong Jin Yeomyung boldly claim her love—overcoming her, and even overcoming the Cult Leader.

But as she increasingly became aware of her own strength, she had tucked that dream away in the corner of her heart.

If she chose the latter path, that dream would effectively be gone forever.

The Founder, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed that Cheon Yura was deep in thought.

“You’re hesitating. I understand. Carrying out my suggestion right away would require you to consider countless social constraints and the eyes of others.”

“……”

Cheon Yura quickly erased all traces of her emotions.

If that previous thought of hers had been exposed, she might have seriously considered suicide from embarrassment.

“Of course, there is a way to postpone the storm of fate without making a choice right now.”

“What is it?!”

“Obviously, it’s ‘power.’”

An unchanging truth passed down since ancient times.

“You can correct twisted fate with power. If things aren’t going your way, you should suspect that it’s due to a lack of strength.”

Of course, power alone couldn’t solve everything.

But it did help solve most problems.

“If you go beyond the Demon’s Threshold and reach the Supernal Demon Realm, there will be no one under heaven or earth who can oppose your will. Not even your own father.”

“Ugh…!”

“Of course, even with your talent, it will take a long time to reach that level. So for now, let’s focus on acquiring the strength to delay your decision.”

At those words, Cheon Yura’s eyes lit up.

“Are you saying you’re going to teach me, Founder?”

“My teachings ended the moment we first crossed swords. More importantly, the key to transcending the Demon must be found by oneself.”

“Then…”

“For someone like you, actual combat is the answer. Especially when fighting someone of similar or slightly greater strength—it holds value beyond measure.”

“……”

Cheon Yura’s expression darkened slightly.

There couldn’t be more than ten people across all of the Central Plains who could meet the condition the Heavenly Demon Founder described.

Cheon Yura, as she was now, had grown strong enough to seriously discuss victory even against figures like the Ten Thousand Evils King, Gu Yomyung, or some of the heads of the Six Great Demonic Clans.

“You’re lucky, descendant. There happens to be someone who fits that description.”

“…?!”

Someone like that—here?

Clap clap!

The Heavenly Demon Founder clapped lightly and spoke toward the dense forest beyond.

“Come now, you may step out.”

“……”

“……”

Cheon Yura and So Cheon both turned their gazes toward the woods.

And from that forest emerged—

“Gwan Hyun?!”

The familiar white-and-blue uniform of the Mount Wudang Sect.

The half-grey-haired middle-aged man—Sword Supreme Sage Gwan Hyun—revealed himself!

“…How?”

The two of them stared at Gwan Hyun in disbelief.

“Looks like he followed you in here.”

Gwan Hyun gritted his teeth as he glared at the Founder.

“You talk so smoothly, even though you’ve had me locked down completely until now.”

“There’s no reason to show mercy to the enemy of my descendant. The only reason you’re alive is because, even if uninvited, you entered this place properly.”

“Heh… So you kept me alive just to use me like this, didn’t you?”

The Heavenly Demon Founder smiled gently.

“I won’t deny it.”

Gwan Hyun looked up at the sky and sighed in resignation.

“Damn you, Grand Heavenly Lord. You used me. If I had brought my disciples here, none of them would’ve survived…”

The density of qi saturating this land was a fortune in and of itself.

But only if one could endure it.

In Gwan Hyun’s judgment, disciples below the Master Level wouldn’t last more than a few days in this place.

Of course, overcoming this environment could lead to a dramatic breakthrough—but the one before him would never allow it.

“You’ll serve as my descendant’s sparring partner.”

“If I agree to that, will you spare me?”

The uncharacteristic plea for life from a Daoist made the Founder’s expression darken slightly.

“I’ll leave that in my descendant’s hands.”

“…Fine. Seems like I don’t have much of a choice.”

Gwan Hyun was certain there was nothing he could do to defeat the being in front of him.

That clarity allowed for a swift decision.

“Mount Wudang’s Sect Leader, huh…”

Cheon Yura narrowed her eyes and locked onto Gwan Hyun with a sharpened will to fight.

One of the Eight Lords.

No—considering his martial prowess, it wouldn’t be wrong to call him the first seat among them.

He was barely fifty now. In a few decades, the Central Plains may have welcomed a new member among the Three Supremes.

Gwan Hyun gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Maybe… that man had seen right through me all along. That’s why he laid this trap.”

“You’re already spouting defeatist nonsense before the fight even starts.”

Cheon Yura frowned and raised her sword.

“Stop talking and come at me. If you kill me, you’ll earn your freedom.”

Gwan Hyun responded like he had been waiting to hear that.

“If you insist, I’ll fight you with everything I have.”

Pop! Crack! Craaack!

Gwan Hyun’s muscles and joints began to contort suddenly.

As if transforming into something else, his form rapidly shifted into a completely different being.

“Wh-What the hell is that monster?!”

So Cheon freaked out at the sight of Gwan Hyun’s transformation into an awakened form, but Cheon Yura, with prior experience, only offered a short remark.

“At least he’s more refined than the last one.”

In his final form, he resembled a Western knight clad in full armor.

Though it was just a visual resemblance—he was simply turning into a monster.

“Ha… haha… HAHAHAHAHA!!”

Now fully awakened, Gwan Hyun suddenly let out a wild laugh.

“I had my doubts, but this is amazing! I can awaken even without the night! And more than that!”

His face was overflowing with a thrill far removed from anything a Daoist should feel.

“More than anything, the power! I’m brimming with vitality! This power is on a completely different level! With this, even that Grand Heavenly Lord bastard—!”

“Descendant, you’d best be careful.”

The Founder flashed Cheon Yura a peculiar smile.

“He’s currently undergoing Return to Ancestral Form. He would’ve been formidable in the regular world, but now…”

Smile.

“…at this point, there’s practically no one who can match his firepower.”

“W-Wait a minute! That’s way more than just ‘a bit stronger’!”

So Cheon shouted in panic, desperately objecting.

“Even better.”

Cheon Yura smiled confidently as she got into position.

“This will be the perfect chance to seize what lies beyond.”

***

Drip. Drip drip.

Blood poured from my entire body, soaking the ground until it pooled.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. Can’t you see?”

Barely clinging to consciousness, I responded with difficulty.

‘Being tortured might be more merciful than this.’

My skin was so ruined that there was no trace of natural flesh left.

My arms and legs dangled like they might fall off at any moment.

It was a wonder I hadn’t died yet.

Seeing my wretched condition, the Founder spoke.

“This training was never meant to be endured by a human body.”

That much was clear.

“Originally, those qualified are chosen and then subjected to a special martial method and formation to temper their bodies so they can survive this training.”

I didn’t know about the martial method, but I had a guess about the special formation.

“Through a process lasting roughly five hundred days, the body is remodeled, followed by another five hundred days of forced enlightenment. After about one thousand days, the recipient is reborn as a superhuman who challenges the limits of humanity.”

The Heavenly Demon Founder spoke with pride.

“I call this process the Thousand-Day Pass.”

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