**Chapter 17: A Man More Insane Than the Mad Demon (2)**
Xue Gui did not blink an eye at the Mad Demon’s irritable reaction. Instead, he retorted in a cold voice.
"If you aren't becoming an instructor at the Thousand-Day Pavilion just to torment the cadets, then isn't it a logical choice? Why on earth are you getting so annoyed?"
He tossed the words out without taking his eyes off his documents. His tone continued to press the Mad Demon.
"It is precisely because your past actions have been so absurd that I am suspicious from the start. You should have conducted yourself better in the past."
As if to prove that the saying "one weaves one's own trap" existed for a reason, Xue Gui scolded her incessantly. The Mad Demon felt a surge of frustration at his nagging, which sounded like he was lecturing an immature younger sibling, but she could not say a word.
Because not a single word he said was wrong. She could only let out a sigh and swallow her rage.
In the end, the Mad Demon made a final decision.
"I've told you, so I assume I am free to go now?"
Only then did Xue Gui look up from his documents to face her.
"Understood. I will submit it as an official proposal and have it reflected."
"How long will it take, by any chance?"
"It will take a few days for it to be officially processed, but take this and carry it with you for now."
At the same time, Xue Gui handed a plaque toward the Mad Demon. It was a token proving she was an instructor of the Thousand-Day Pavilion. With this, she would have no trouble moving about within the pavilion.
The moment the Mad Demon snatched the plaque and turned to leave—
"I truly hope that from now on, you will speak to me before taking action, just as you did today."
Even though Xue Gui’s desperate voice reached her, the Mad Demon didn't even think his words were worth a response. She whipped her body around and stormed out of the study. Xue Gui watched the door where she had disappeared and let out another deep sigh.
*Bang!*
The study door slammed shut violently. As the Mad Demon walked toward the Thousand-Day Pavilion, she ground her teeth, unable to suppress her fury.
"Ha...! Cadet number 400, Hajin. To think that brat has driven me to go this far!"
She clenched her fists tightly. The hassle of being nagged by that unlucky bastard Xue Gui and having to go through tedious procedures just to secure an instructor position at the Thousand-Day Pavilion.
"You’d better realize just how lucky you are!"
The Mad Demon lowered her head. She was not the type to be this fixated on a mere cadet. Even when she showed interest in someone, it usually faded away after a short while.
But Hajin was different. He had flustered her, piqued her curiosity with incomprehensible behavior, and even moved her to act, hadn't he?
There had never been anyone like him before. Naturally, the Mad Demon couldn't help but have high expectations.
'Do you hear me, Hajin? I will break you in properly.'
A chilling, bizarre smile curled at the corners of her lips. It wasn't anger or a desire for revenge. It was closer to the twisted ecstasy of a master craftsman who had finally obtained the perfect material.
"I will mold you into the greatest martial artist in the history of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, one that no one else can ever hope to surpass."
Her violet eyes flickered with madness.
* * *
Meanwhile, even after the Mad Demon had left, Xue Gui remained in his seat for a long time. His mind was filled with nothing but her unpredictable behavior.
'Why would that arrogant Mad Demon volunteer to be an instructor at the Thousand-Day Pavilion?'
No matter how much he racked his brain, it was unbelievable. That she would swallow her pride and endure his nagging just to obtain a mere instructor position—what could she possibly be after?
'Why on earth?'
Xue Gui fixed his eyes back on the documents on his desk. The list of successful candidates for this intake. He traced the names of those assigned to the Thousand-Day Pavilion one by one.
'Is there someone among those sent to the Thousand-Day Pavilion who could have caught the Mad Demon's eye?'
A few cadets who had passed the entrance exam with high rankings stood out, but there was no one of such stature that the Mad Demon would personally take an interest in them. But then, his gaze stopped at one name.
- Cadet number 400, Hajin
'A disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand...'
Xue Gui’s brow furrowed deeply. That a disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand would have a ranking as low as 400, and that he would specifically choose the Thousand-Day Pavilion—nothing about it added up.
'Is he trying to follow in his master's footsteps? Since the Ghost Soul Hand was a graduate of the Thousand-Day Pavilion.'
But that hypothesis alone could not explain the Mad Demon’s erratic behavior. The Mad Demon volunteering to be an instructor just because of one disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand? It was absurd.
Unresolved questions piled up one after another. It felt as if he were digging deeper into a labyrinth, like a tangled knot of thread.
In the end, Xue Gui let out a deep sigh. It seemed virtually impossible to resolve all these questions. His shoulders only felt heavier than usual.
* * *
Lying on the infirmary bed, Hajin suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and opened his eyes without realizing it. He bolted upright.
'What is this strange feeling...?'
A sickening, unpleasant sensation, as if his heart were pounding and someone far away were casting a terrifying curse upon him.
Hajin frowned and climbed down from the bed. An inexplicable sense of anxiety weighed heavily on him.
'It feels too unsettling to just lie here. Should I go train instead...?'
Just as he was about to step out of the infirmary, the door swung open. It was Chae Un-ryang.
"Oh! Cadet number 400! You're just in time!"
Upon spotting him, Chae Un-ryang shouted with a welcoming face.
"Are you feeling better? I don't think I mentioned that today is the day of the first orientation for the Thousand-Day Pavilion, so you'd better get going before you're late."
Chae Un-ryang patted Hajin on the shoulder, urging him on. Hajin chewed over Chae Un-ryang's words.
'First orientation? Is it like an orientation session?'
An orientation was supposed to play an important role in helping newcomers adapt quickly to a new environment or situation. If he wanted to survive in this brutal Thousand-Day Pavilion, he had to get off to a good start.
"Thank you, Instructor. Where should I go?"
"Just head left for the Thousand-Day Pavilion!"
"Thank you!"
Hajin offered a quick salute and hurried toward the path on the left. A steep incline stretched out before his eyes.
'Phew... It's going to be tight if I just walk.'
He pondered for a moment. Thanks to the medicinal pill he had received from the Mad Demon, his fractured Mana Spring had recovered to a certain extent.
'Should I use a little magic?'
Hajin glanced around and whispered a spell under his breath.
"Haste."
A light speed-enhancement spell. He could use it without any major issues with his current mana levels. Soon, his footsteps became noticeably faster, accompanied by the wind wrapping around his body.
The uphill path that would have normally left him panting became as easy as walking on flat ground. Thanks to this, Hajin was able to arrive at the main gate of the Thousand-Day Pavilion on time.
"Phew, is wind magic still a bit too much for me?"
Perhaps due to the aftereffects of the acceleration, his feet tangled slightly at the very end, and he stumbled for a moment. Hajin caught his breath in front of the main gate and slowly pushed the door open.
*Creeeak—!*
As he opened the heavy door and stepped inside, the ranks of cadets filling the vast training hall caught his eye at once. They, too, seemed to be Thousand-Day Pavilion cadets who had come for the orientation, just like him.
'There must be over a hundred of them. That's quite a lot.'
But didn't they say that all the so-called "tough" ones had gone to the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion?
Monstrously talented individuals and ambitious people would have mostly applied for the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion, so it was highly likely that this place would be relatively peaceful.
In other words, he could assume that there was no one among these people who would be worth getting entangled with from the start. Thinking this, Hajin felt a bit relieved and was walking forward when he spotted a familiar face. It was Do-gyeong.
"Hey!"
Hajin greeted him and naturally approached his side. Do-gyeong recognized Hajin and gave him a familiar smile. He had already taken his place in the ranks.
"You're here."
Do-gyeong checked Hajin’s complexion and asked in a worried voice.
"Are you feeling alright? You collapsed while coughing up blood during the exam, so I thought something terrible had happened."
"I've recovered well, so I'm fine."
When Hajin answered nonchalantly, Do-gyeong let out a sigh of relief. Then, he muttered vaguely about the upcoming schedule.
"I'll tell you since you might have missed some information. I heard that the Thousand-Day Pavilion starts training from the very first day, so your physical condition is important. I'm glad you're okay."
At these words, Hajin sighed. Training from the very first day? Is this... the Demonic Cult? It seemed it wasn't just going to end with an orientation.
Still, they had said the Thousand-Day Pavilion was relatively laid-back compared to the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion.
'What kind of training will there be? I just hope it's not that ridiculous stuff you see in martial arts novels, like standing under a waterfall or climbing a cliff with your bare hands.'
Doesn't that kind of thing suit the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion better than the Thousand-Day Pavilion? Hajin was just picturing a peaceful future when—
A martial arts instructor walked out from the front with a dignified gait. He scanned the lined-up cadets once and shouted in a booming voice.
"Everyone, attention! The content of this stage of the exam has been changed. It has been decided that this stage will proceed with the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion and the Thousand-Day Pavilion cooperating. I will inform you of the details shortly."
A small murmur broke out among the cadets. In an instant, the atmosphere of the training hall shifted completely.
"Excuse me? What does that mean?"
"We're taking the exam in cooperation with the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion...?"
Most of the cadets present were shocked, unable to hide their bewilderment. The Thousand-Day Pavilion was widely perceived as a relatively safe zone. But now, they were hearing that the very people they wanted to avoid most were coming into that safe zone.
Hajin was no different. For a moment, his mind went blank.
'What is this?'
He had chosen the Thousand-Day Pavilion in search of safety and peace. But from the very start, that plan was being shaken to its core.
"Please reconsider!"
"Does this even make sense!"
Amidst the murmurs of the panicked cadets, the martial arts instructor’s fierce roar erupted.
"Silence! Will you not be quiet!"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the training hall was suppressed. The instructor continued with a stern face.
"And there is someone I would like to introduce to you today. One of the Demonic Sovereigns has come to this Thousand-Day Pavilion as a guest instructor."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a woman walked out from the distance, her steps rhythmic and leisurely. Watching her, Hajin briefly doubted his own eyes.
Jet-black hair. Violet eyes. And that unique aura that overwhelmed everything around her. Huh? Why does she look so familiar? Could it be?
Soon, the woman drew closer, and her face became fully visible.
It was the Mad Demon.
‘Why are you showing up here?’
The other students were no different. The horrific memories of the first-stage exam resurfaced, and their faces turned pale with shock.
“Why is the Mad Demon here…?”
“A guest instructor? Her? That’s impossible!”
The Mad Demon, who had walked to the front, stopped in the center of the Training Hall. Then, she declared with absolute confidence to all the students.
“You must be surprised to see me. I know. The reason I have come here is simple. It is because of that student, number 400, Hajin.”
At those words, the air in the Training Hall turned even colder.
The gazes of over a hundred students shifted in unison, passing over the Mad Demon and landing on Hajin. Standing in the center of those stares, Hajin was utterly frozen.
‘Excuse me? No, what is that supposed to mean… No, what kind of nonsense is this again!’
Was this what the Mad Demon meant when she said she had a way? Indeed, a commoner could never predict the actions of the Mad Demon.
‘But, this might not be so bad after all?’
Hajin was already a person who had decided to become the Mad Demon’s disciple. Being physically closer to her would surely be an opportunity to grow even further. Above all, he might be able to receive her Immeasurable Heart Method even faster.
‘The heart method for mana recovery, I must obtain it.’
One must take what one needs. The corners of Hajin’s mouth curled up slightly.
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