A brief silence fell over Lingering Garden Palace.
Seol-Hwi’s proposal was a statent that could severely impact the succession battle.
Not only End Demon, but the expressions of other disciples hardened for that reason.
“I don’t know what sche you’re plotting.”
It was End Demon who first revealed his complex thoughts.
He wasn’t naive enough to take Seol-Hwi’s proposal at face value.
He was sure there was another motive for Earth Demon.
“What do you plan to do if I refuse your proposal?”
“Then I have no choice but to ask sahyung Demon Lord.”
“Oh, really. So you think I would gladly accept your proposal?”
Demon Lord interjected sarcastically, but Seol-Hwi remained calm.
“Yes. You will accept it.”
“Oh, look at this guy?”
“There’s no reason to refuse. The sahyung had long planned to seize the successor position on his own, but you couldn’t, could you?”
“……”
“This isn’t just my thought; anyone in our cult would think the sa. Eventually, the second sahyung will have to take a big gamble to beat the sahyung. That’s why he has no choice but to rely on techniques like the strange arts.”
“Earth Demon, your words are particularly irkso today.”
A crack appeared in Demon Lord’s previously relaxed expression.
He felt as if this insignificant Earth Demon had seen through his nature and plans.
In truth, it was easy for Seol-Hwi to make such predictions.
The reason he tried to take Songhwa in the past. The secret warriors he was raising.
Hadn’t he experienced it all?
“Not interested in my side?”
Just then, as Ah Ryeong stepped forward and spoke, Seol-Hwi replied readily.
“No. Not at all.”
“Just like how you look… so unpleasant.”
Despite Ah Ryeong’s sudden sneer, the heavy atmosphere remained unchanged.
As End Demon seed to be lost in thought for a mont, Demon Lord quietly spoke.
“How about we just decide with rock-paper-scissors?”
At that mont, End Demon shot a sharp look at Demon Lord. As the cold killing intent was evident in his eyes, Demon Lord put on an indifferent expression.
“Just kidding. Yes, yes. I’ll step back discreetly.”
Then he stood up and turned away. Ah Ryeong, who was next to him, seed awkward but followed after him.
Thus, the two quietly left Lingering Garden Palace.
‘It’ll be complicated. Those two.’
Seol-Hwi thought as he watched Demon Lord and Ah Ryeong walk away.
If Earth Demon withdraws from the successor battle, the power of End Demon and the cooperation between Demon Lord and Ah Ryeong, the two disciples, will achieve a balance of power.
In that situation, if Earth Demon cos under the First Disciple, even if those two join forces, it would be an impossible situation to win.
That ant the fierce successor battle would end anticlimactically.
“You, what’s your intention with all this?”
After they disappeared, End Demon showed a look of caution.
In a way, it would be stranger to agree so readily.
Suddenly killing the Supre Pavilion Lord, the guy who beca terminally ill now, asking to be taken as a subordinate.
Who wouldn’t be suspicious of this?
“As I said. I want to be under sahyung…”
“Cut the crap!”
Bang! Crash!
End Demon shouted fiercely and struck the pavilion pillar.
The sturdy wooden pillar broke too easily, and soon the roof collapsed.
When the shattered wood fragnts were cascading over Seol-Hwi’s head, End Demon spoke again.
“Unlocking the power of Heavenly Killing Star and gathering us all here. What’s your real sche?”
“Ha… Sahyung. You really don’t get it, do you?”
“What did you say?!”
However, such a vehent reaction from the opponent was actually beneficial to Seol-Hwi.
Impulsive and hot-blooded types are fundantally different from those who indulge in plots and sches.
“Now, since you’re so doubtful, let lay out so trustworthy facts first.”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“That’s exactly it. When it’s ti to die, you start saying anything. You must admit that.”
Seol-Hwi continued speaking with a cheeky smile.
“So there is no doubt that my life is shortening now. The fact that I was able to kill the Supre Pavilion Lord and the Jade Sky Lord, just by seeing this power, you can tell. And the second.”
“…….”
“Anyway, since I’m going to die, there’s no need for to get involved in the succession struggle. This is also an undeniable fact, right?”
“…….”
End Demon’s response was lukewarm, but Seol-Hwi could tell.
That he had no choice but to believe.
After deceiving even the system of the Absolute One, how could soone like End Demon doubt him?
“Then why bother with Great Sahyung? No, there will be the question of why join under Great Sahyung. This is very simple. Because under Great Sahyung is the safest haven for my subordinates to live in the future that is to co.”
“Subordinates?”
“Yes. Subordinates.”
End Demon stared at Seol-Hwi.
Perhaps it was an intention to discern whether it was a lie or the truth.
Seol-Hwi did not avoid his gaze.
From the beginning, his level was not sothing a person like End Demon could penetrate.
“You must know how I think of my subordinates. You also know what kind of decision would be for their sake when my safety is at risk. And more importantly. For ‘that child’s’ life, I must remain under your command.”
“That child? Who are you talking about?”
“You will find out later. Anyway, I intend to live my last days for ‘that child.’ First, I will create a safe haven, and then, if I die, it would be beneficial to beco a subordinate to a master who knows how to distinguish public from private.”
Seol-Hwi quickly rose from his seat and knelt again.
End Demon showed a mont of confusion, but it wasn’t the unpleasant expression from before.
“Sahyung. My life is already ruined anyway. The mistake of killing the Supre Pavilion Lord and the Jade Sky Lord under your command. I will repay that debt and clear the path for you to beco the successor. So, please take care of my troops. Inherit the position of the cult leader.”
Earth Demon cherishes his subordinates.
End Demon acknowledged that as well.
Because he knows that Earth Demon’s nature is not one to reject a fight.
The Heavenly Killing Star is like that.
It’s literally an inability to control one’s strength, causing killing intent to boil over.
For him, having subordinates gave him a reason to continue living.
‘If nurturing successors is the goal…’
If that’s the case, it makes so sense.
In a gradually dying situation, wanting to leave one’s na behind is also the desire of a warrior.
The self who will soon die is essentially finding a reason to live for sothing.
‘There might be sothing else I don’t know about. But there’s no reason not to accept him in this situation.’
If there’s sothing he’s plotting, it’s better to keep him in sight.
If he goes to other disciples, uncontrollable variables may arise.
End Demon decided as such.
“Fine. However, I won’t accept all your subordinates at once.”
“Yes. I think the sa. Among my subordinates, there are not only spies from sajo but also sahyungs.”
“……!”
End Demon’s brow furrowed.
Indeed, Earth Demon’s attitude was different from before. Dealing with him was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
“Fine. Then I permit you to join my ranks. Do you have a position in mind?”
“There just happens to be a vacancy for the Supre Pavilion Lord…….”
“Huh…….”
The bewildered End Demon soon nodded.
There was no need to hold any attachnt to the already deceased Supre Pavilion Lord.
Thus, Earth Demon could be appointed as the Supre Pavilion Lord under End Demon’s command at the Lingering Garden Palace.
Supre Pavilion.
The inside of the Supre Pavilion, visited six days later, was cleaner than expected.
The broken areas were well-repaired, and the surrounding items had already been replaced with new ones.
Seol-Hwi looked around the room for a while.
“Truly, tis have changed.”
It was a feeling that was both unfamiliar and familiar, unpleasant yet nostalgic.
Everything started from here.
His destiny, the people who had hindered him.
Even himself, who had to choose a path out of fear.
‘Sahyung may not fully believe my words… Well, it doesn’t matter what he thinks.’
For Earth Demon’s core, guards, and secret warriors, those who were first-class were accepted, but those with lesser skills were put on hold along with the Hidden Truth Troops.
It seed that the intelligence issues of other disciples were concerning him.
In that sense, Seol-Hwi got the impression that End Demon was making decisions more cautiously than expected.
“Now that we’re at the Supre Pavilion, shall we start proceeding with the tasks?”
Seol-Hwi’s expression brightened.
The main reason for joining under End Demon was to provoke the Absolute One.
Among those reasons, specifically choosing to co to the Supre Pavilion had its own circumstances.
And he planned to put that into action right here.
“Outside… huh?”
Seol-Hwi paused as he was about to call Cheon Kwang. He sensed a presence from the ceiling, and it felt familiar.
“Is it Heuk Bi?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure swiftly landed on the roof ridge.
It was her.
The hidden spy of the Supre Pavilion, who had been brainwashed and lost her lord.
She seed to have regained quite a bit of her original self.
“Yes. Greetings to the Great Lord.”
As Heuk Bi showed courtesy, Seol-Hwi’s expression slowly hardened.
He had told her to co to her senses…
It seed she had not yet escaped ntal indoctrination.
‘It won’t be resolved easily.’
Seol-Hwi decided to pretend not to know her for now.
It wasn’t sothing that could be resolved imdiately, and there were things he needed to do.
“There will be guest operatives in this Supre Pavilion Lord. Move personally and integrate all of them into the Black Moon Troops. Also, if there’s anyone giving them a hard ti, set an example.”
“Yes. I understand.”
True to her knowledge of Supre Pavilion Lord’s internal affairs, she imdiately stood up and left.
Black Moon Troops is one of the divisions of the Supre Pavilion.
If the guest operatives are affiliated there, they won’t die in vain before a war breaks out.
Unlike the miserable life of his past life.
This ti should be a bit different.
“Is Cheon Kwang outside?”
At Seol-Hwi’s repeated call, another trusted subordinate approached and bowed in the room that had fallen silent for a mont.
“Yes. Please give your command.”
It was Cheon Kwang. He is the person who always assists Earth Demon from a slight distance.
“Soon, a person nad Seol-Hwi will co here. I will be absent for a while, so when you find that person, take them to Martial Arts Island to be tested.”
“Understood!”
“Hold on, who would be good to lead?”
When Seol-Hwi casually brought it up, Cheon Kwang thought for a mont before answering.
“Yes. It seems that a person nad Go-eun, a third-class escort warrior, would be suitable.”
‘So that’s roughly how it happened.’
Seol-Hwi, who asked just in case, nodded.
He was curious about how Go-eun ca to et him in the past, and it seed like Cheon Kwang’s intentions were reflected in this way.
“Then hurry up and move.”
“Yes!”
After quickly paying his respects, Cheon Kwang swiftly exited the room.
Watching him leave, Seol-Hwi grinned.
“Well then. Shall I test it once more?”
Seol-Hwi closed his eyes. He gathered all his qi and flowed it into the room.
And then, at a certain mont.
[……Error! Unable to find NPC Earth Demon! Unable to find NPC Earth Demon! Verifying…….]
Once again, he was freed from the system. And soon after, the system spat out this result.
[……Found it!]
Seol-Hwi nodded.
It must have confird the presence of Earth Demon moving beyond the main sect.
Seol-Hwi began to concentrate once more.
Before Earth Demon. To recall the sensation when he first ca here.
Soon, there was a response.
[……◇ Found it! 73,320,033rd player, 'Squad Leader Seol-Hwi'.] [Restarting!]
‘Oh!’
Intentionally lowering the level and reverting everything, as expected, the system found the ‘Player Seol-Hwi’ who was not a re guest.
Now, he gained the ability to freely adjust even the structure itself, surpassing the system.
Back to the Seol-Hwi of the past, when the options appeared.
‘But, did it say 73.32 million?’
A vague mory surfaced. There was a ti in the past when Sa Yu-kang, who was an AI, ntioned 50 million players.
Soone might ask.
Why return to the Seol-Hwi of the past who suffered from the options?
“Because I thought of a way to infuriate him even more.”
Seol-Hwi smirked.
For now, the Absolute One would not peek inside.
Before that, he planned to scrutinize each of his designs and thoroughly destroy them.
With the options he proposes.
“It’s Go-eun. May I co in?”
Starting with that guy, who was the first obstacle in his life, he will only move according to the most difficult paths.
The first stage is the Martial Arts Island.
It is the educational gateway where ordinary warriors participate.
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