Until now, I hadn’t had the time or need to think about it, but there’s one thing I’ve come to realize. The scenery of the Ten Thousand Mountains, where the Demon Sect resides, is truly unparalleled in the world. The vast open view, the dense trees, the majestic mountain peaks, and the forests covering them—it’s like a painting of mountains and rivers. The air is incredibly fresh too. It’s hard to believe this is the lair of those vicious demons. I can’t understand why the people living in such a breathtaking place have such terrible personalities.
“Hah! It’s amazing!”
I mean it. Maybe because I never thought I’d ever come here in my lifetime, it feels even more beautiful. Cheon Hajin, who had been sniffing the air, broke into a wide smile.
“The bamboo scent is nice too.”
As he turned around, his eyes fell upon an endless sea of bamboo trees standing in rows. Each bamboo was so thick and tall, it seemed like it could pierce the heavens. Some were abnormally thick, almost resembling logs.
‘What a sight.’
They say that upright bamboo symbolizes loyalty. Now I understand why the sages of old loved bamboo so much. Just looking at it makes my heart race and my hair stand on end.
My chest feels hot. So hot that I feel like setting the whole place on fire.
“...Damn it.”
Drip, drip. Blood trickled down from under his chin. He had bitten his lips so hard that they were covered in wounds.
“I asked to go out for a bit, and instead, they send me here? Are you even human, you bastard?!”
Cheon Hajin’s wails echoed through the bamboo forest.
Wait, who said anything about cutting ties? I just wanted to go out and get some fresh air! What did I do wrong to deserve being locked up in a place like this?!
Clutching his head in despair, Cheon Hajin didn’t notice the shadow that quietly appeared behind him.
“Forgive my impertinence, Young Master, but that’s a dangerous statement.”
Cheon Hajin turned his head. His eyes were filled with a murderous glare, like a beast eyeing its prey. But the middle-aged man looking down at him didn’t even bat an eyelid.
“What did you just say?”
The man bowed his head respectfully. “Insulting or cursing the Sect Leader is punishable by immediate execution. That applies even to the Young Masters and Young Ladies.”
“Hey, you!”
“Please speak.”
Cheon Hajin, who had been fuming, eventually turned his head as his breathing slowed.
“I wasn’t cursing the Sect Leader.”
“...”
“Don’t misunderstand.”
“Is that so?”
Damn it! Damn it!
Even if I’m not the emperor—or even a king—it’s not wrong to curse those in high positions. But thinking about it now, it just makes me angrier. What, am I some kind of royalty? Can’t I even curse them behind their backs?
‘Damn it, to these gloomy bastards, the Sect Leader is even higher than an emperor.’
Not just royalty, but a manifestation of a god. I get it, but honestly, I don’t care. To you, he’s a god, but to me, he’s just a ridiculously strong martial artist. Of course, the problem is that this ridiculously strong martial artist is an unprecedented monster.
Cheon Hajin, who had been grumbling, glanced at Ma Dongpil.
This guy is as unyielding as a thousand-year-old rock. Even with the wind blowing, not a single strand of his hair moves.
Is he wearing a mask? Or is he just not human?
“You’re from the Protectorate?”
Ma Dongpil knelt on one knee. “This humble servant is Ma Dongpil, Third Captain of the Demon Sect’s Protectorate.”
“A captain of the Protectorate is serving as my personal bodyguard?”
“It is an honor, Young Master. Being entrusted with the protection of such a revered figure is a privilege of three lifetimes.”
Cheon Hajin screamed internally.
Three lifetimes? Honor? Cut the fancy words! I don’t need that! Just get away from me!
He looked into Ma Dongpil’s eyes.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes burned like flames, making it unbearably uncomfortable.
“I swear to Poxian that I will protect the Third Young Master with my life.”
Don’t swear... please...
‘These annoying bastards!’
I hate the Demon Sect. I really, really hate it. What have you given me besides despair?
You say the scenery is nice? Don’t talk nonsense! The nice scenery just makes me feel even more toyed with!
“Young Master, the weather is quite cold. How about going inside to warm up?”
“I’m enjoying the bamboo, so don’t disturb me.”
“As you command!”
This guy, unnecessarily serious.
Cheon Hajin snorted three times in a row and then looked back at the bamboo forest, his expression suddenly filled with emptiness.
‘By the way, damn it, what do I do now?’
They called this place the Lonely Bamboo Forest. I don’t even want to know what this place means to the Demon Sect. The important thing is that I can’t figure out why the Sect Leader sent me here instead of a proper residence.
Even worse, the Lonely Bamboo Forest is deeper into the sect than the Dragon Hall, where the Sect Leader’s disciples reside.
At this point, being locked in a prison cell would be more comfortable.
‘Should I just set it on fire?’
If there’s no place to live, maybe they’ll move me somewhere else? The weather seems dry enough—just one spark and it’ll burn down in an instant.
Wait, now that I think about it, that’s not a bad idea.
A sinister light flickered in Cheon Hajin’s eyes.
‘It’s even tempting.’
Just imagining it sends a thrill through me. I want to burn down every single building in the Demon Sect.
‘...’
Cheon Hajin let out a long sigh.
‘Get a grip, you lunatic. What excuse are you going to give if you set it on fire?’
Excuses like “I was roasting meat and accidentally burned it all down” or “it was struck by lightning” won’t work with these people.
‘Let’s think of something more productive.’
His wandering pupils stopped, and color returned to his pale face. In an instant, his demeanor changed, and he began to ponder seriously, resembling a monk in deep meditation.
‘Maybe I made a mistake from the very beginning.’
I was so focused on escaping that I didn’t even properly assess the atmosphere here.
That alone is baffling. If I’m going to escape, I should have first understood what kind of place this is.
‘I underestimated it too much.’
I deeply regret it. The guy who was so meticulous during the Assassin’s Guild days has turned into a fool.
Maybe it’s because of the prejudice against the Demon Sect that created this obsession. It’s a place notorious in the martial world for being vicious, so I unconsciously judged them as such.
‘I didn’t even realize the position of the Third Young Master, or what I could do with it.’
Maybe the Demon Sect is just like any other sect, a place where people live. There might be many timid and kind people like Yinghua.
If I’m being generous, it might not be a bad place to live.
But! Even so!
‘I still can’t live here.’
Just as four-legged animals live on land and fish live in the sea, there’s a reason for everything. Even if this guy is that guy and that guy is this guy, the Demon Sect is still not for me.
Most importantly, even though I’ve been given a second life by an incredible stroke of luck, do I really need to be tied down to an organization?
Cheon Hajin rolled his eyes.
‘In this situation, let’s not try anything obvious like going out. It’s not going to work anyway.’
Hmm...
But just in case, maybe I should check.
“Hey, Mr. Ma.”
A look of confusion flashed across Ma Dongpil’s face.
Mr. Ma? It’s an unfamiliar way of addressing him. He doesn’t remember ever being called that by someone of higher status.
He bowed his head even deeper than usual, lest his bewildered expression show.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Cheon Hajin’s expression immediately soured.
“Do you have to bow your head like that every time you address me? It’s making me uncomfortable.”
“My apologies, Young Master. It’s the proper etiquette when addressing someone of your esteemed status.”
“...”
“...”
“Alright, fine. Let’s move on. I have a question.”
“Please ask.”
“As you know, it’s been a little over three months since I recovered from the demonic possession.”
“Yes.”
“I’m feeling stifled. Really stifled and frustrated. So I want to go out and get some fresh air.”
“...”
“Do I need some kind of pass or something to go out?”
Ma Dongpil slightly raised his head.
His face was still as stiff as a mask, but there was a clear look of confusion.
Cheon Hajin frowned slightly.
“Why? Is the procedure complicated?”
“Well...”
“Ah, no need to be cautious. Just tell me straight.”
Cheon Hajin leaned in with an expectant look, causing Ma Dongpil to flinch.
After the initial confusion, the next emotion was bewilderment. He wondered how someone who had lived in the sect for over ten years wouldn’t know this.
But since a superior was asking, it was only natural for him to answer sincerely.
“If you insist, this humble servant will dare to speak.”
“Good, good.”
“Generally, leaving the sect requires an official order from the higher-ups.”
“An official order? Where does that come from?”
“It’s issued by the Military Strategy Department of the Inner Sect.”
“Huh? The Military Strategy Department?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. So I just need to go to the Military Strategy Department?”
“Not exactly.”
“What? You said it’s issued by the Military Strategy Department. Can’t I just go there and get permission?”
“Normally, yes.”
“Explain quickly.”
“But before the Military Strategy Department, there’s the order from the Demon God Palace. By custom, disciples cannot leave the sect’s territory without the Sect Leader’s permission.”
“...”
“If the Third Young Master wishes to leave the sect, you must go to the Demon God Palace, not the Military Strategy Department. If you receive the Sect Leader’s permission, there’s no need to get approval from the Military Strategy Department.”
“I see...”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm... thanks for the explanation.”
“Your words are too kind.”
Ma Dongpil, who had bowed his head, looked at Cheon Hajin with a puzzled expression.
For a moment, Cheon Hajin’s face looked like it had aged ten years.
Is there something troubling him? After a moment of hesitation, Ma Dongpil cautiously spoke.
“Forgive my impertinence, Young Master. The weather is getting colder. I’m concerned for your health...”
“Alright, let’s go in.”
“As you command!”
And so, Cheon Hajin followed Ma Dongpil’s guidance and entered the Lonely Bamboo Forest.
Perhaps because he was completely out of it.
Cheon Hajin didn’t notice the flicker of tension that crossed Ma Dongpil’s usually stoic face.
The day he would learn the reason why Ma Dongpil kept urging him to go inside, citing the weather.
On that day, Cheon Hajin would seriously consider whether to grab the Sect Leader by the collar or not.
Swoosh!
The bamboo leaves swayed in the wind.
It was a chilly night.
That night, Ma Dongpil knelt before someone.
“...That concludes my report on the Third Young Master.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Mudam, standing by the window, had a shadow cast over his face.
“Your duty is of great importance. Continue to serve with all your heart.”
“Yes.”
“You may go now.”
“...”
“Do you have something else to say?”
After a moment of hesitation, Ma Dongpil mustered the courage to ask.
“Elder.”
“Yes.”
“Forgive my impudence, but as a bodyguard, it’s essential to know basic information about the person I’m protecting. May I ask...”
“Speak.”
“Has the Young Master suffered memory loss after the demonic possession?”
A look of confusion crossed Mudam’s face.
“Why do you ask that?”
Ma Dongpil recounted the conversation in the Lonely Bamboo Forest in detail.
After listening silently, Mudam replied.
“Third Captain, I understand why you asked that.”
“...”
“But don’t worry too much about it. The person you’re serving now isn’t just any high-ranking official. He’s one of the seven who may one day hold the highest authority in the sect.”
“...”
“He might have just been joking. Or perhaps he really has lost some memories. But that’s as far as it goes. Don’t question it further.”
Mudam smiled slightly.
“That’s why protecting the successors is so difficult. That’s why I specifically sent you.”
“...Yes.”
“You may go now.”
After a short bow, Ma Dongpil disappeared like a ghost.
The smile on Mudam’s face was replaced by a cold expression.
‘Memory loss...’
He pulled out a book from the shelf.
It was a list of prescriptions given to patients within the sect over the past three months by the Inner Sect’s medical department, the Blood Soul Pavilion.
Thump.
As Mudam calmly scanned the list, a thick vein bulged on his jaw.
‘Could it be?’