Chapter 52: Facing the Demonic Master (5)

At the sound of the old voice, I turned my back. It was the same old man I had seen right before my death in my past life.

“Old man.”

I still appeared young, but the old man looked no different from the day I was being hunted down in my previous life.

“Why do you still appear old and not in your younger form?”

“Because I’m trapped within your body, even though we’re in the past, I remain as I am.”

Upon closer look, he didn’t seem like the wicked old man I had once thought him to be.

“Who exactly are you?”

“When we met, I believe you were a merchant. Even if I told you my title, would you recognize it?”

“A merchant house must never stray too far from the martial world. Even if we’re not as knowledgeable as warriors, we must know enough. The fate of the merchant union is tied to the tides of the martial world, so we have no choice but to pay attention.”

“Then you might know. I wasn’t some nameless figure, after all. My title is the Demonic Master.”

“The Demonic Master… Demonic Master… Demonic Master!”

I muttered the title at first, but my voice gradually grew louder.

“Good heavens! You’re the Demonic Master Seok Jamyung?!”

“Seeing that you even know my name, you must not be some mere peddler.”

How could anyone in the martial world not know the famed Demonic Master Seok Jamyung? Even those outside the martial world had heard of him.

He was said to have mastered every demonic art and was equally adept in orthodox techniques, which earned him the title Demonic Master.

To think such a renowned figure’s soul had entered my body—it was bewildering and absurd.

“But the Demonic Master Seok Jamyung was a supreme master. Weren’t you practically dead back then?”

“Hahaha! The bastards from the Blood Demon Castle and the Three Demonic Heavens set up an inescapable trap to kill me. How could I have avoided it!”

As he recalled that time, rage surged and his face turned red.

“Anyway, were you the one who tried to use me as a vessel for the Soul-Separating Spirit Art?”

“I was.”

He admitted it plainly, and though I was about to get angry, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“By the way, the one who awakened me—did he also know the Soul-Separating Spirit Art? Where was he from?”

“He was from the Demonic Cult.”

“I see. If he knew enough to recognize the Soul-Separating Spirit Art, then he wasn’t an ordinary man. At the time, that was the only way I could have my revenge, and you were the only one there.”

I frowned and thought for a moment before asking.

“But… that technique of yours, can it send someone back to the past?”

“There’s no such technique in the world. Not even an immortal could do that.”

“Then how did we end up back in the past?”

“It seems we came here due to a causality even the heavens couldn’t override. I was trying to cast the technique and take control of your consciousness when those trying to kill you stabbed us with their swords. That caused the inner energy within us to explode. Usually, something like that would melt your insides or cause your body to be blown apart. But us ending up in the past… it must mean we passed through a divine realm during that explosion. That’s all I can assume—I don’t know the exact reason.”

He meant that the journey back to the past was the result of coincidence and inevitability merging to create fate.

Frankly, there didn’t seem to be any better explanation.

“The shaman said you were trying to take over my body. Is that true?”

“It is. That was my intention at first. But after coming to the past, something went wrong with the technique, and my spiritual power couldn’t erase your consciousness.”

“I’m sorry, but I intend to drive your soul out of my body. I hope you understand.”

The Demonic Master smiled at that.

“You really think your sudden leap in martial prowess was because of your own talent? You believe you could easily see through the flaws in your opponent’s techniques and movements just because you’re that good? All of that was possible because of me. If you erase or drive me out, you’ll go back to being an ordinary man. And when that happens, my spiritual power—three cycles’ worth—will disappear along with me.”

“What? Three cycles? Your spiritual energy is at three cycles?!”

I had never held even a single cycle’s worth of inner energy before, so I had no idea what that level even felt like.

To think the spiritual energy accompanying the Demonic Master’s soul amounted to three full cycles.

That was a transcendental level, beyond the realm of mortals.

Such a level of energy was usually only held by a great patriarch of a martial sect.

‘If I could make that power my own…’

As I entertained that thought, the Demonic Master grinned.

“Sorry to say, but I can see all your thoughts. Of course, it’s natural to think that way. You might think you can erase my soul but keep the energy. However, the Soul-Separating Spirit Art binds the soul and spiritual energy as one medium. In other words, the soul and energy can’t be separated. When you were poisoned on Gunja Mountain and my energy moved—it wasn’t to save you. It was to protect myself. Simply put, if my soul disappears, so does the energy.”

Hearing that, I realized I couldn’t just recklessly try to erase his soul.

I had obtained power that couldn’t be acquired even through destiny.

Gaining even half a cycle of energy in a year would be considered miraculous.

Even if I managed that, combining it with my own energy wouldn’t amount to more than one cycle.

With three cycles of energy, how powerful would the Tai Chi Dantian become? Just imagining it was overwhelming. With that kind of energy and the Tai Chi Dantian, there would be no enemy I’d fear.

“If you want to use my energy, you have to keep my soul alive. So, I propose a deal.”

“Speak.”

Compromise was necessary.

“For the time being, I’ll remain in your body. If you need help, I’ll assist you. I can’t stay here for free, after all. But if I find a suitable body to move into, help me transfer into it. Then, I’ll leave you with half of my energy. That’s better than me remaining in your body forever, right?”

As I hesitated, the Demonic Master added more.

“Think carefully. I was the one who warned you about that brat from the Seomun Clan. If I hadn’t known their martial arts, you would have died or been seriously injured. The way that guy looked at you wasn’t normal. And if you meet other enemies, you could survive thanks to my help again.”

His words were quite persuasive.

Just as he said, the Demonic Master, who understood both orthodox and demonic martial arts, could be a tremendous asset.

And his offer wasn’t a bad one.

He would leave once he found a suitable body, and I’d receive half his energy in return—nothing about it seemed unfavorable.

“Give me time to think.”

“Do as you wish. I won’t force you. After all, now that I’m in the past, those who tried to kill me don’t exist anymore. Even if I disappear, it doesn’t matter.”

That was why he hadn’t shown a desperate will to survive.

Knowing he’d come to the past had been as shocking for the Demonic Master as it was for me.

Coming to the past had effectively ended his quest for revenge.

The entire reason he performed the Soul-Separating Spirit Art on me was for revenge. Now, whether he lived or died, it no longer mattered.

“If I decide to use your energy, what must I do? It would be bad for you too if I died, right?”

“You still don’t understand? Do I need to explain again that my soul and spiritual power were transferred together using the Soul-Separating Spirit Art?”

Then, something occurred to me.

“In that case, are you saying that I must pull your soul into my consciousness in order to fully use the three cycles of energy?”

At last, the Demonic Master smiled.

“You’re not entirely brainless after all.”

“What happens if I do that?”

Even as I asked, I found the answer myself.

“Ah, then your soul would partially take control of my consciousness. Your behavior might manifest in me.”

The Demonic Master laughed heartily.

“Smart! Smarter than I expected!”

His laughter was the answer to my question.

“Damn it!”

“What? Not satisfied?”

“I don’t even know what kind of person you are. You might be a pervert who goes crazy when you see a woman or a bloodthirsty murderer for all I know.”

He let out a chuckle, amused.

“My nature is not so different from what the rumors say.”

“Your rumors?”

I recalled what I had heard about the Demonic Master.

“I don’t remember hearing anything good.”

“Of course not. I wasn’t some chivalrous hero of the orthodox sects. How could you expect nice things to be said about me? Still, I wasn’t some murderous demon or garbage of the demonic path, so don’t worry.”

I grumbled, clearly displeased.

“Still, I’ve got my first nickname thanks to all this.”

“Hahaha, you mean that flashy title, Flying Dragon Sword Hero?”

“Because of you, I can’t be called Flying Dragon Demonic Sword anymore.”

“Right. Orthodox brats love that ‘hero’ label. Fine. Even if I end up controlling half your consciousness, I’ll make sure you can still be a hero. How’s that? Happy now?”

From his standpoint, it was a huge concession.

“Then how do I summon your soul? I can’t be risking my life every time, using some ritual just to wake you.”

“I dwell in your Upper Dantian. There’s no other place a soul can reside.”

Hearing that, I exclaimed.

“Ah! Then to summon you, I just have to operate the Upper Dantian!”

“You’re not a complete fool. Since you used the ritual to awaken me, you can now draw about half a cycle of energy even without my will. Isn’t that right?”

I thought, What a mouthy spirit, knowing so damn much.

Well, he was inside my body, so of course he knew everything going on within.

“That’s right.”

I gave a shallow nod.

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