The Grandson of the Heavenly Demon

Chapter 10

Note: Changing Sword Energy's Strength to Sword Energy Hardening. Sword Energy Manifestation to Sword Force CompressionChapter 10:4. Into the Tiger's Den (1)Even after mastering the method of coating a blade with Sword Force Compression, Jeong-min's training was far from over.

'Achieving the 3rd Stage in here is impossible.'

Both time and experience were too lacking to reach the 3rd Stage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art within this Closed-door Confinement.

And so—training. Jeong-min structured his daily routine around physical conditioning above all else.

Being locked away, he had no way to tell the time, so he used his body as a clock. With this, he slept only two hours a day, investing every remaining moment into physical training.

"Huu… huu…."

Eight hours had passed since he began push-ups without rest.

Jeong-min was tormented by the sensation that his forearms were about to fall off, yet the sight of these still-thin muscles left him no choice but to press on with his training.

"Nine hundred eighty-seven……!"

Just finish a thousand. With that resolve, Jeong-min bent his arms once more.

As he did, he cleared his mind. Emptying idle thoughts was the key to sustaining long bouts of exercise.

'And then.'

Jeong-min recalled the Sword Force Compression he had mastered weeks prior.

No—since it was Demonic Energy being applied, perhaps it ought to be called Demonic Energy Hardening. Though, of course, it was not yet a power capable of producing full results.

'The 2nd Stage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is projecting Demonic Energy outside the body and giving it form. Which means……'

It might be possible to develop a demonic art using this.

It would likely become a form of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art unlike anything Hyeok Je-un used.

"One thousand!"

Only after completing every last one did Jeong-min collapse onto the cold floor.

Drenched in sweat, he simply sprawled out where he fell—this time, without even setting a rest period, he passed out entirely.

And when he woke after sleeping a full day through—

"So it's over now."

His one month of Closed-door Confinement had come to an end.

Jeong-min approached the iron door through which he had entered. When the time came, the person in charge would arrive to open it.

But.

"……?"

Why isn't it opening?

Puzzled, Jeong-min kicked the iron door. A firmly latched bolt held it shut, blocking his way out.

"Huu."

Jeong-min channeled his demonic art into his hand. Then he struck the iron door with his palm—bang!

'Demon Palm Piercer.'

Deng—

With a resounding ring, the bolt fastened to the iron door vibrated loose.

Jeong-min kicked the iron door once more, and this time it gave way easily, swinging open.

Kiiiii—

The door opened with a grating noise.

And beyond it, what Jeong-min saw was—

"……What is this?"

A rather shocking sight.

.

.

.

.

.

Approximately two hours before Jeong-min emerged from Closed-door Confinement.

Heavenly Demon Hyeok Je-un had no intention of hiding the veins bulging at his temples.

He spoke in a low voice to the men standing across from him.

"This old man's ears have grown poor and he did not hear you clearly. Would you be so kind as to repeat yourself?"

"Is that so? Then I'll explain again. There won't be a third time, so listen carefully."

The man loudly read from a scroll-shaped official document in his hand.

"For years, the Qinghai Escort Bureau has gone out of its way to accommodate the Heavenly Demon Cult, residents of Tianshan, by taking a detour around Tianshan when conducting escorts to the western regions! However, the losses incurred thereby are immense! Therefore, the Heavenly Demon Cult is requested to vacate Tianshan within two weeks. The Qinghai Escort Bureau will be cutting a new path through Tianshan."

Absurd.

Vacate Tianshan? And what's more—cut through it?

'All for the sake of the Qinghai Escort Bureau's escort routes?'

Hyeok Je-un stared in disbelief, and the Escort Fighter who had just read the document out gave a thin, sneering smile in return.

"As you well know, the owner of Tianshan is our Qinghai Escort Bureau. Bear in mind that our demand to vacate Tianshan is perfectly reasonable."

"……Hah."

Hyeok Je-un staggered for a moment, his head swimming.

Those who caught him were his grandchildren, Hyeok Seol-hwa, and Bang-rip.

Bang-rip turned to Hyeok Je-un with a look of sympathy.

"Father-in-law, please go inside and rest. I'll handle things here."

"You will?"

"Yes."

What exactly was he going to handle, and how? Everyone looked to Bang-rip with worried eyes.

Bang-rip stepped forward before the Escort Fighters, a broad smile spread across his face, and said,

"But of course, we will do as the esteemed Escort Fighters of the Qinghai Escort Bureau command. We will vacate Tianshan within two weeks."

"How dare you—! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Hyeok Je-un, unable to contain his fury, shot back to his feet.

Bang-rip turned to him and said calmly,

"But there's not the slightest flaw in their logic, is there? This mountain does belong to the Qinghai Escort Bureau, and we are nothing more than tenants."

"Tianshan has no owner. Those ragamuffins in blue drew up a deed on their own whim and are playing at being landlords—and you expect me to just sit back and accept that?"

"Ahem, Cult Leader. Aren't your words going a bit far?"

Hyeok Je-un's undignified manner drew openly displeased expressions from the Escort Fighters.

The Escort Fighters of the Qinghai Escort Bureau were known for their blue attire. Escort Fighters and Spear Hands who traversed mountains daily would ordinarily wear green or earthy tones—colors that blended relatively well with their surroundings.

But these men were confident. Confident that even if they encountered wild beasts in the mountains, they would win.

No wonder even mountain bandits steered clear when Escort Fighters in blue were among their targets.

'The Qinghai Escort Bureau, commanding skilled Escort Fighters.'

Yes, understood. But what churned inside Hyeok Je-un was nothing short of burning rage.

Jeong-min's words came to mind. He had said that those around them had been eyeing the Heavenly Demon Cult, waiting for their chance.

'They've been sitting quietly and now they see us as easy pickings. He wasn't wrong.'

Word must have spread that the Forest Bandits were marching on the Heavenly Demon Cult in full force.

And so even the long-quiet Qinghai Escort Bureau had come seeking a foothold.

Tremble, tremble—Hyeok Je-un's fists shook. How was he to hold back this rage?

'Jeong-min was right. Without a show of anger, the Heavenly Demon Cult is nothing but a toothless lion.'

Hyeok Je-un rose to his feet with resolve. He pushed Bang-rip aside and stood face to face with the Escort Fighters.

"I'll say this only once, so listen closely. Whatever anyone may claim, the master of Tianshan is our Heavenly Demon Cult. You would do well not to entertain thoughts of seizing this land we have protected for hundreds of years."

"Ha! Shall I relay those very words to the Bureau Chief?"

"That little brat? Go right ahead, if you can. Great Mountains!"

Hyeok Je-un suddenly called out.

And within mere seconds, two elderly men landed beside him.

The Left Elder and the Right Elder.

"Left Elder Byeok-cheon! Right Elder Hu-cheon! Show these ruffians the bitter taste of the Heavenly Demon Cult!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Caught off guard by the sudden battle readiness, the Qinghai Escort Bureau fighters were startled. But they too were veterans of combat, and without hesitation, they drew their blades.

In the world of martial artists, drawing a sword means staking one's life.

"Grandfather! We'll help too!"

Hyeok Jang-ho and Hyeok Mun-ha joined in, and just like that, a small battle between the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Qinghai Escort Bureau erupted at the peak of Tianshan.

.

.

.

.

.

"……What is this?"

What Jeong-min saw as he opened the iron door of Closed-door Confinement and stepped out was a rather shocking sight.

First—sunlight. Sunlight he hadn't seen in a month stung so sharply it brought tears to his eyes.

"Ugh, I'm tearing up."

At last, as his eyes adjusted to the light, the next thing Jeong-min saw was—

Men in blue, sprawled across the Training Grounds of the Heavenly Demon Cult's Main Hall.

"Huk… huk…."

"Hraaah. Hrrr."

After that, he saw Heavenly Demon Hyeok Je-un and his brothers, breathless and heaving, along with the other Cult Members.

'Those must be the Elders.'

He remembered seeing them in his past life.

Jeong-min padded over in his bare socks. It appeared everything was already over.

"Grandfather."

"Jeong-min."

Hyeok Je-un seemed surprised at the sight of his grandson's face after so long.

When Jeong-min stepped close as if to embrace him, Hyeok Je-un gave a slow nod.

"What happened here?"

"Mm. Well, you see."

Hyeok Je-un scratched the side of his head, looking sheepish.

Just then, the men in blue who had been lying about began to rise, one by one.

'Those are Escort Fighters and Spear Hands of the Qinghai Escort Bureau.'

Jeong-min recognized them at a glance. He had memories from his past life of personally sending them crashing to the ground.

One of the Escort Fighters cried out, seething with fury.

"Kch—do you think Bureau Chief Cheong Jin-gang will let this go quietly? Word has it the Forest Bandits are marching here with full force! Who do you think will win if our Qinghai Escort Bureau sides with them!"

‘Mm, that about sums it up.

So the Qinghai Escort Bureau came looking for trouble. And he couldn't hold back and threw the first punch.’

Jeong-min glanced at Hyeok Je-un. He was curious what his answer would be.

Would he offer an apology now? If this was the Hyeok Je-un he knew, that's the sort of man he'd be.

But—

"Tell them to come."

What came from Hyeok Je-un's mouth was acceptance of the provocation.

"We protect our family ourselves."

The Escort Fighters and Spear Hands fled.

Fortunately, no one had died—a testament to the Heavenly Demon Cult's Principle of Non-Killing still holding firm.

Jeong-min let out a quiet, wry smile.

'And when I swung a blade, what did you say to me?'

Whether he recognized the contradiction or not, Hyeok Je-un looked at Jeong-min with an embarrassed expression.

But Jeong-min said nothing.

"I'm back. Brothers, Mother."

"Jeong-min."

"Jeong-min, you… but what happened to your body?"

The family was stunned by the sight of him—a frame far more solid and hardened than before.

And it wasn't only his family. The other Cult Members present were the same.

"Wow, that level of physique……"

"His body is insane. How did he train to that extent in just a month?"

"That's the body I want……"

That Jeong-min had been able to condition himself to this degree in such a short time was, naturally, largely due to the Heavenly Martial Physique.

But greater still was Jeong-min's own will to grow stronger. Without will, there can be no training.

Had he truly come out of a Closed-door Confinement meant as punishment—by training?

"Um."

The moment Jeong-min began to speak, all eyes gathered on him.

Jeong-min let out a faint, hollow laugh.

"I haven't eaten in a month, so I'm starving. Could I have something to eat, Mother?"

At those anticlimactic words, Hyeok Je-un and the rest of the family couldn't help but laugh.

"Come on in."

The family embraced one another.

All but one.

'……'

Bang-rip merely watched the family's reunion from a distance.

His expression was twisted with malice—to a degree that defied description.