1259——————==

Soul of the Evil God (Concept)

Lee Kwang’s face turned a mix of red and blue for a moment. It was evident he was utterly dumbfounded by the reality that he silently thought I must be a complete fake, yet couldn’t find the words to argue. And because of that, he awkwardly found himself compelled to ask for the Nine Prostrations Ritual. As he trembled in place, I chuckled and said,

“Hmm. Are there so many people that you’re embarrassed to ask for the Nine Prostrations Ritual?”

“…It’s an incredibly awkward request. Even if everything my Master said is true, can’t you at least save my face? Must it be right here, in this moment?”

“Well.”

“This is nothing but a personal whim. I can’t be publicly humiliated in front of my disciples, so I kindly ask you to make a standard request.”

Though Lee Kwang’s words were sincere in their own way, I couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

“Hahaha. How tragically weak your desire for the Thunder Spirit must be, to be swayed by something as trivial as your martial arts reputation. Still, considering it’s your last connection with Lee Cheong-un, it seems you might even be obsessively dreaming about it.”

As if I cared about your reputation!

I absolutely won’t give up.

Right here, right now, I will proceed to get Lee Kwang’s Nine Prostrations Ritual!

“…….”

Lee Kwang’s expression grew complicated. Mentioning Lee Cheong-un and the Thunder Spirit drew forth the desires buried within him, and I seized the opportunity like a hawk.

“If you really don’t want to, that’s fine by me. I could handle the Huashan Sect extermination entirely on my own, so let’s just call it quits between you, the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, and me.”

Swoosh

As I turned my back to leave, Lee Kwang suddenly shouted,

“Wait… just a moment!”

“Just a moment?”

“Hang on.”

I roared to keep Lee Kwang off balance.

“Lee Kwang, are you really of the Thunder God Lineage? Tied up in the world’s reputation the way you are, you’re worse than the scoundrels from the Nine Great Sects!”

“……!!”

“I won’t wait long. I’ll count to ten, and you decide within that time!”

Tremble tremble

I could see his hands and feet shaking even more. He appeared to be entering a panic state as he faced the worst moment of his life. I relaxed and began counting slowly.

“Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five….”

Then it happened.

Thud!!

Almost simultaneously, the Extreme Tiger and Jin So-cheong rushed in front of me and bowed. As I stared at them in shock, Jin So-cheong lifted her dirt-caked forehead and with sparkling eyes said,

“If you become Master Lee Kwang’s Master, you become my Grand Master. Please accept my bow in advance.”

Beside her, the Extreme Tiger, also bowing, said in a sulky tone,

“Well, I’m Extreme Tiger. Please accept my bow too.”

“…….”

Once again, they showed signs of bowing to me. It looked like they were prepared to perform the three bows of respect to a deity.

I understood why Jin So-cheong and Extreme Tiger were behaving this way.

‘They are trying to delay Lee Kwang’s humiliation and save his face as much as possible.’

To them, Lee Kwang was the sole hope and light in the Thunder God Lineage. No matter how much I ranked above him, they wouldn’t want to see him openly kneel in front of all the disciples. Still, that wouldn’t stop me, so it seemed they preferred to take the lead, getting humiliated beforehand, making Lee Kwang’s Nine Prostrations Ritual seem a necessary step.

I inwardly grumbled,

‘Tch… You guys. Don’t make me feel soft-hearted for no reason.’

This was between me and Lee Kwang, you know!

Swish

I lightly focused my will using the two fingers to lift them into the air. Jin So-cheong and Extreme Tiger, being peak experts, seemed to resist my will, but once I infused my internal power and executed the Heavenly Contraction Sword technique, they had no choice but to stand.

As they awkwardly rose, I said brusquely,

“Don’t interfere! I want Lee Kwang’s bow over yours!”

“Umm….”

Jin So-cheong made a sound as Extreme Tiger nudged her.

“Uh, Baek Woong Master, we’ve only bowed twice, and by doing so, we risk being quite rude. Is that alright?”

“I don’t care. It’s meaningless to me, but maybe not to others.”

“Huh?”

“Just stop that and step back. Don’t get in my way more than this.”

At that, Extreme Tiger stepped back with a huff. He realized I wasn’t joking.

Perhaps realizing he had nowhere else to back down to? Lee Kwang’s complexion steadied, yet the expression of someone who had just chewed something sour didn’t change as he slowly stepped forward. Then he declared,

“Disciple Lee Kwang of the Thunder God Lineage, I shall offer the Nine Prostrations Ritual to my Master!”

Thud

Lee Kwang kneeled and bowed his head deeply to me. At that moment, I had to struggle to suppress the grin that wanted to spread across my face.

“Hehehe. Hehehehehehehe!!”

Could this really be happening?

I hadn’t even hit Lee Kwang or berated him, yet I was feeling this great? The thought of that arrogant and duplicitous Lee Kwang reverently bowing to me as his superior was an almost unbelievable situation. Still, this was the undeniable reality, and I felt like I could soar up to the heavens from sheer happiness.

At last, once Lee Kwang completed the prostrations and the ritual was finished, I spoke solemnly to him,

“Rise.”

As Lee Kwang stood up with a face as pale as dirt, I felt the impulse rising within me.

‘What if I just sarcastically tease Lee Kwang in front of all the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School disciples?’

Wouldn’t that be immensely satisfying?

‘…No. That’s a bit excessive.’

However, I realized that such an impulse was lame. For now, it might feel great to gloat but that’s not the fun way. It’s subconsciously obvious that I wouldn’t enjoy it if I looked too much like I was teasing them.

Since I am, after all, acting as the Master of the Merchant Clan, I had to frame my teasing towards Lee Kwang and the Thunder God Lineage as an unfortunate mishap in the quest to nurture them, ensuring I can relish this for a long time!

I spoke to Lee Kwang with a tone of seriousness,

“I apologize for making you kneel in front of the disciples. Were you upset?”

“…Not at all, Master.”

Lee Kwang seemed to manage his expression well, despite the turmoil inside. I assumed he might be rotting inside, so I continued, my tone somber.

“Phew, for the future of the new Thunder God Lineage we are to create together, we cannot afford to cling to petty pride or arrogance. I’m sorry for using a rather rough method to make you understand this. For the sake of the Thunder Spirit, a mere kneel shouldn’t be that much to ask, right?”

“…….”

“Alright, let’s all go in and have a drink.”

I approached Lee Kwang, patted him on the shoulder, and pulled him into a hug, saying,

“Since today is a good day, we should bring out some liquor, right?”

Lee Kwang strained to manage his expression as he answered,

“…Ahem… So-cheong, please bring out the liquor.”

“Yes, Master.”

As I glanced at Lee Kwang, I couldn’t help but chuckle internally. Normally Lee Kwang would have to be in a good mood to fetch the liquor, but by disregarding that and making him fetch it when he’s feeling miserable could only irritate him.

A little while later, once the liquor was brought in, the four of us sat at the table, and I lifted a cup, offering it to Lee Kwang.

“Here, pour me a drink!”

“…….”

Lee Kwang’s left fist, tucked under the table, was clenched tight, trembling violently. But regardless, he forced a smile, naturally opened his fist, and poured liquor for me with both hands, saying,

“I hope it suits your taste.”

“Haha. Of course it will suit my taste. Since this is the liquor collected when you were the Grandmaster, it must be among the finest in the Central Plains.”

Lee Kwang’s face hardened again. He was clearly shocked by my knowledge of that fact.

I burst into laughter, my eyes slightly glazed over as I grinned at Lee Kwang.

“Our adventure has only just begun, so brace yourself!!”

Seriously, better brace yourself, Lee Kwang!!

Clink clink

While enjoying food and drink, I recounted to Lee Kwang and the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School disciples the whole backstory behind the extermination of the Huashan Sect. Then Lee Kwang, with a slightly uneasy expression, remarked,

“…Are we really going to engage a massive sect like the Huashan Sect, just because we got some assistance in the village’s development from the Huashan Sect?”

“Exactly. Is there a problem?”

“…….”

Lee Kwang hesitated for a moment before responding.

“From what I’ve heard, the master of the Huashan Sect is the Azure Dragon Sword wielder, Yong Junil, who has profound martial skills. I’m worried about unexpected consequences if we provoke them.”

He mentioned that and began moving his chopsticks, seemingly indifferent. Naturally, this behavior indicated his resistance.

“Oho….”

What a load of nonsense, Lee Kwang.

I remember how in the past, he used to look down on the likes of the Zhongnan Sect and all the Nine Great Sects without a care. I’m sure he perceives the Huashan Sect—being just a branch of the Wind Spirit Sect and a part of the White Lotus Sect—as nothing more than a group of common lackeys. Yet, here he is, making excuses; that only signifies he’s reluctant to join me in the extermination of the Huashan Sect.

‘Fine. I predicted you wouldn’t put in a real effort when it’s not your fight at stake. So let’s poke the bear according to plan.’

I smiled mischievously and spoke to Lee Kwang, who was enjoying his meal,

“Haven’t you ever found it strange that Yong Junil is named Yong (Dragon)?”

He paused.

The chopsticks in his hand, moving side dishes to his plate, suddenly froze. He turned to face me with a stiffened expression, saying,

“What do you mean, Master?”

“Master.”

“Ma… Master?”

“In truth, while wandering the world after my Half-Transition Master training, I acquired some interesting information. The plan to strike the Huashan Sect wasn’t just for the sake of the Wind Spirit Sect.”

I crossed my arms and began divulging information I had gathered during my rebirth.

“Yong Junil is the son of the Dharma Guardian, Cheon Woo-jin, and the heir to the Thunder Spirit. Additionally, the Huashan Sect can be considered a branch of the White Lotus Sect in the Central Plains.”

“……!!”

“The reason I declared war on the Huashan Sect and Zhongnan Sect this time was because of the backing of the White Lotus Sect.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one shocked; Jin So-cheong and Extreme Tiger had astonished expressions too. Lee Kwang’s eyebrows twitched as he stammered,

“Is that really true?”

“Do you dare doubt my words? Want to facepalm yourself in front of the kids?”

“Ah, no.”

As I growled, Lee Kwang cautiously continued,

“That’s hard to believe. The Wind Spirit Sect has become strong enough to take a seat as the top of the Nine Great Sects?”

“Of course, Yong Junil is an outstanding figure, having mastered not only the martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect but also those from the Huashan Sect. It’s possible he could be stronger than his father, Cheon Woo-jin.”

I continued speaking, stuffing my mouth as I teased Lee Kwang.

“Right now, even if you risk your life to fight, you wouldn’t be able to take even one arm from Yong Junil, Lee Kwang.”

“…….”

Lee Kwang looked like a pot boiling over with anger and pride, yet somehow retained his composure. He pretended to be calm and took a sip of his drink, saying,

“If Master… I mean, if you lead us, we could even take Yong Junil’s life.”

“Haha, that’s right. But first, there’s something you need to do before taking them down.”

“What is it?”

I told Lee Kwang,

“Shut down the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”

“…Huh?”

With a bewildered expression, as if he hadn’t heard right, Lee Kwang blinked, and I smiled cheekily, saying,

“From today on, you all will be reborn as martial arts teachers in Soeul Village. Will you join me in continuing the legacy of the new Thunder God Lineage in Soeul Village?”

“…….”

After a lengthy moment, Lee Kwang called all the disciples and, in a trembling voice, announced the closure of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

“Effective immediately, the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School is closed. Those who wish to follow me and continue to uphold its teachings may come with me to Soeul Village!”

“Huh?”

“Where is Soeul Village?”

When the disciples learned of the remote and isolated location of Soeul Village, they murmured among themselves for about half a moment.

Whoosh

Almost all of them scattered back to their homes, leaving behind only the original masters, Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong, and Bang-il, who simply couldn’t let go of his dreams of becoming an expert.

“…….”

Lee Kwang seemed dazed, hardly believing that this was all that remained. But I thought that made perfect sense.

‘Most of the disciples have their homes in Guanzhong and are comfortable pursuing their mediocre dreams of being martial artists… hardly any of them were truly desperate. How could any even have the loyalty to follow after witnessing what Lee Kwang just went through and going to a rural village?’

I had done it.

By crushing one of Lee Kwang’s principles—his association with the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School—I had pushed him into a tighter corner.

But for some reason, there was still one fellow lingering in my thoughts.

So, I approached Bang-il and said,

“Hey, Bang-il. Everyone else has seen how absurd it is to follow me to Soeul Village and fled, but you’re actually coming along?”

“Uuuhhh…!!”

Tears streamed down Bang-il’s cheeks as he shouted,

“I-I will… become an expert! I’ve spent so many years… I want… to be an expert….”

Seeing Bang-il made me feel somewhat touched, so I sighed.

Then I said,

“Fine. I promise you… you will become an expert.”

Looks like it’s time for Bang-il to finally receive a reward.

In this life, I’m going to help him grow into one of the most bar-none experts in the world.