Episode 9: Misunderstanding (4)
A person whose outer appearance differs from their inner self.
This commonly refers to a spy or an infiltrator.
Do-gyeong, the man who had blocked Hajin’s path, could not help but feel quite flustered the moment he heard those words.
‘Could it be that he has figured out my true identity?’
His real identity was that of a spy dispatched in absolute secrecy by the Orthodox Murim Alliance. His mission was to gather intelligence from within the Heavenly Demonic Cult and weaken the cult’s power by disrupting the competition for the position of Young Cult Leader.
Because of this, he had prepared thoroughly for years and prided himself on having a fairly detailed grasp of the internal affairs of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
However, Hajin’s appearance was an unexpected variable that shook all his plans. There had been no mention of a disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand in any of the intelligence he had acquired beforehand.
‘That shouldn’t be possible. I didn’t have any loose ends that could have been exposed. He’s probably just throwing out a guess. But I must be careful with my words, as things could get troublesome if I make a mistake.’
Because he had never even imagined that the retired legendary assassin, the Ghost Soul Hand, would take on a disciple, his brow furrowed involuntarily.
Just how much skill does this guy possess?
Furthermore, why did the Ghost Soul Hand send a disciple to the Demonic Path Academy at this specific time? What could his intentions be...?
Countless questions flashed through Do-gyeong’s mind. Identifying the true nature of Hajin, a being who had appeared out of nowhere, was the most urgent task of all.
That was why, immediately after the commotion with Cheon Ha-rin, he had intentionally approached Hajin.
‘I hope he isn’t a dangerous factor.’
For spies dispatched by the Murim Alliance, there are several guidelines that act like unwritten rules regarding the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
First. One must prevent Cheon Ha-rin, the Cult Leader’s daughter, from becoming the next Cult Leader at any cost. If she were to become the Cult Leader, the legitimacy of the Demonic Cult would be solidified, and the internal factions would rally together much more strongly. This is the worst-case scenario for the Orthodox faction.
Second. While Yun-geom, the son of the Sword Demon, has excellent skills, he is arrogant and self-righteous, making him unfit to unite the factions. It would actually be more beneficial for the Orthodox faction if he became the Cult Leader, as it would be easier to induce internal division within the Demonic Cult. Therefore, one should push aside other competitors as much as possible and help him become the Heavenly Demon.
Third. Beware of the Mad Demon. That woman is a complete lunatic who cannot be predicted in terms of when, where, or what she might do. Remember that nothing good comes from getting involved with her.
-What? You want me to be wary of a single Demonic Sovereign?
-Yes, the Mad Demon is dangerous.
These were the basic codes of conduct Do-gyeong had held before entering the Demonic Path Academy. But now, a fourth item might need to be added.
‘I must figure out the Ghost Soul Hand’s disciple.’
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Do-gyeong faced Hajin directly.
“So, I have something to ask you.”
From here on, the full-scale information gathering would begin. Do-gyeong had to find out how this unknown variable named Hajin would shake up the board in the future.
He first threw out a question to grasp Hajin’s intentions.
“Do you intend to go to the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion or the Thousand-Day Pavilion?”
Cadets who pass the first stage of the exam at the Demonic Path Academy are faced with two paths.
The Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion was a place where those who sought to surpass the heavens—in other words, those who coveted the position of Cult Leader—gathered. Choosing the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion was tantamount to openly declaring one’s ambition to participate in the competition for the next Cult Leader.
Conversely, the Thousand-Day Pavilion was, quite literally, a place for those who intended to silently devote themselves to training for a thousand days to solidify their standing.
It carried the meaning of aiming for growth as a martial artist rather than the Cult Leader competition. Though, of course, that was more of a theoretical statement.
In reality, cadets heading to the Thousand-Day Pavilion tended to choose a candidate among the Young Cult Leader hopefuls in the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion whom they wished to support and serve, acting as their faction to bolster their power.
Therefore, it had the characteristic of being much more stable and less competitive than the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion.
‘The question is, where will he go?’
Ultimately, the meaning behind this question was: Will you become the king? Or will you make the king? Do-gyeong believed he could gauge Hajin’s ambition with this.
‘So, reveal your ambition quickly! Disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand!’
Do-gyeong’s gaze tried to read Hajin’s expression. Hajin, as if finished with his contemplation, opened his eyes wide and tilted his head.
“Oh? What’s that?”
It was a truly innocent and honest reaction. Do-gyeong almost fell over from the shock.
‘What is this? What on earth is his intention?’
His brain raced. Reading expressions is the basic skill of a spy, but he simply couldn’t read him at all.
‘What is he thinking?’
There was no intention or calculation in his voice. It was filled only with genuine, pure surprise, as if he were hearing it for the first time.
Do-gyeong was momentarily speechless. Does this guy really know nothing and come here? Or is all of this a high-level act to make his opponent let their guard down?
Meanwhile, Hajin went a step further and asked him back with an innocent expression.
“So, what’s the difference between the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion and the Thousand-Day Pavilion?”
“You really don’t know...?”
When Hajin nodded, Do-gyeong sighed briefly and began a brief explanation.
“Once you pass the first stage of the Demonic Path Academy exam, every cadet must choose one of the two. The Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion and the Thousand-Day Pavilion.”
“Is that so?”
“The Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion is where those with ambition, who aim for the position of Cult Leader, gather. Entering that place is the same as declaring that you will participate in the competition for the next Cult Leader.”
He paused for a moment to observe Hajin’s reaction, but Hajin only had his eyes sparkling as if he found it interesting.
“On the other hand, the Thousand-Day Pavilion is where those who focus on training rather than immediate competition, honing their skills and solidifying their standing within the cult, go. Of course, most of them eventually end up supporting someone who entered the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion.”
The moment the explanation ended, Hajin finally understood the difference between the two.
‘So it’s basically high risk, high return versus low risk, low return.’
Hajin had only one goal: not to succeed at the Demonic Path Academy, but to endure for a while and then leave to open an inn. Naturally, choosing the latter was the right move.
“I think I’ll end up going to the Thousand-Day Pavilion?”
Do-gyeong’s expression stiffened.
* * *
A moment ago, Hajin had answered without much thought, as if choosing a menu at a restaurant. Do-gyeong managed his expression while trying to hide his doubt.
‘This guy, does he have no intention of going to the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion?’
Do-gyeong’s mind spun with complexity. Isn’t the guy in front of him the disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand? Furthermore, he is a skilled individual who could even spar with Cheon Ha-rin.
Naturally, he could be seen as a talent capable of shaking up the landscape of the Young Cult Leader competition even within the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion.
‘But why give up the position of Young Cult Leader...?’
At that moment, Do-gyeong looked as if he had been struck in the head with a hammer. Whose disciple is this guy? It’s the Ghost Soul Hand.
Even in his active days, the Ghost Soul Hand was someone who never showed the slightest interest in power, devoting himself only to his own martial arts and his duties.
Even from the perspective of the Orthodox faction, he was the epitome of loyalty, the hardest person to win over. Being the only disciple of such a man, it was highly likely that he had inherited the Ghost Soul Hand’s tendencies as well.
‘If he has no greed for power, that makes sense. But then, which candidate does he intend to support?’
The Ghost Soul Hand had lived his whole life like a shadow of the Heavenly Demonic Cult. And when he entered the Thousand-Day Pavilion, the Heavenly Demon of that era had shown overwhelming martial power in the Peak Realm during his cadet days.
To the point where the word "competition" couldn’t even be established.
But now it is different. To put it nicely, the candidates are diverse; to put it bluntly, they are all at a mediocre level.
Since there is no overwhelming candidate, it was inevitable that the candidate each person supported would be vastly different.
‘Who is he supporting? Cheon Ha-rin, who inherited the legitimacy of the succession? But it seemed like he was in conflict with her... The bloodline or disciple of the Demonic Sovereign? Or perhaps a third party entirely?’
Do-gyeong’s mind was complicated with thoughts about whose side Hajin would take. As his thoughts continued, he reached a conclusion.
It didn’t matter who Hajin supported right now.
If he could be recruited to his side, he would bring him in.
If that was impossible, he would keep him in check or eliminate him.
Those two conclusions were all there was.
To do that, he needed to know who Hajin supported.
“So, what happened with Cheon Ha-rin earlier?”
Do-gyeong had only observed the two standing in the training hall. He didn’t know the detailed circumstances.
“Hmm, what happened with Cheon Ha-rin, you ask?”
Hajin retraced his thoughts again. He fought, ran away, and now here he was. To summarize, there was only one thing.
“We fought, and I ran away.”
“You ran away?”
“That’s right?”
For a moment, Do-gyeong’s expression brightened inwardly. The fact that they fought meant there was a high possibility that their relationship was quite bad. It was the moment he was getting closer to his plan.
So, it was time to wag his three-inch tongue. As a spy, causing discord was one of the important virtues.
“Hajin, I believe it is time for the power structure of the Heavenly Demonic Cult to change.”
“In what way?”
“Now that the era of the current Cult Leader is coming to an end, the key is who will become the next Cult Leader. I believe Yun-geom of the Sword Demon Sect is suitable for that position.”
Hajin stared blankly at Do-gyeong. Do-gyeong drew a curve at the corners of his mouth as he looked at Hajin. It was time to drive in the wedge.
“It is an open fact that Yun-geom is the most skilled among this group of cadets. Survival of the strongest—the strong take everything and ascend to the highest position! That is the great spirit that sustains the Heavenly Demonic Cult, so the person most suited for the glorious position of Young Cult Leader can only be none other than Yun-geom himself.”
Do-gyeong clenched both fists and spoke passionately, like a loyal subject genuinely worried about the future of the Heavenly Demonic Cult. Of course, it was all an act hidden behind a mask.
Do-gyeong swallowed a contemptuous laugh as he pictured Yun-geom’s face in his mind.
Yun-geom, an arrogant and self-righteous colt who runs wild, trusting only in his own strength. Someone who doesn’t know how to handle people or read the flow of a massive organization. He was nothing more than a well-sharpened sword.
‘He is the perfect talent to ruin the organization.’
He even possessed a stubbornness that made him reject the counsel of those around him. Therefore, the moment he sat upon the throne of the Cult Leader, he would swing his blade recklessly, shattering the discipline of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, sowing internal division, and ultimately leading this massive organization down a path of ruin.
Do-gyeong twisted his lips into a smirk once more, imagining the day when Yun-geom would become the Young Cult Leader and plunge the Heavenly Demonic Cult into the abyss. Of course, Hajin’s interest was directed toward an entirely different matter.
"Yun-geom? Is that guy really that strong?"
"It’s safe to say he’s the strongest among the cadets. Even compared to Cheon Ha-rin."
A look of astonishment flashed across Hajin’s face. While Cheon Ha-rin was indeed number one, he couldn't be certain that there weren't others like himself who had intentionally pushed their rankings back.
‘...Stronger than Cheon Ha-rin?’
The overwhelming killing intent he had felt earlier, those mad, crimson eyes. She was a being he could confidently say he would have no chance of defeating if they were to cross paths again. Cheon Ha-rin was, quite literally, a disaster of a woman.
‘That lunatic was strong like a monster, so just how much worse is this guy named Yun-geom?’
As he imagined the extent of it, a chill ran down his spine without him realizing it. He felt he needed to be careful to ensure he never got entangled with that side.
"I should make sure never to cross that guy Yun-geom. If Cheon Ha-rin hadn't run away, she wouldn't have even had her bones left intact."
The moment Hajin uttered those words calmly, Do-gyeong’s relaxed brow twitched and narrowed.
‘Cheon Ha-rin’s swordsmanship contains the profound principles of speed and variation, and it even carries a viciousness that corners the opponent to the very end. Even for me, with my considerable movement techniques, I couldn't be certain of escaping her...’
If what he said was true, there were only two possibilities. Either he had mastered a formidable movement technique, or he was a powerhouse with the ability to turn his back and escape from Cheon Ha-rin while a sparring match was in full swing.
Goosebumps rose along Do-gyeong’s spine. This was a matter on an entirely different level. Admitting defeat and withdrawing is worlds apart from escaping a predator intent on subduing its prey.
‘Right, let us not forget that this fellow is a disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand. Perhaps I should report this to the Murim Alliance immediately.’
And with that, Do-gyeong revised his assessment of Hajin.
This was no longer a matter of whether or not to support a cadet.
Informing them about this new existence called Hajin was the priority.
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