The Third Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult. The impact of that name was truly immense.
"Wow!"
"Th-Third Young Master?!"
"It's my first time seeing him in person!"
"As expected...! He looks as dignified as the rumors say!"
Seoryang unconsciously touched his face. This face, dignified? Though he was quite handsome, wasn't he just plain?
On the other hand, Ji Unhoe and the demonic practitioners of the Demonic Sword Family were shocked in a different sense.
"The Third Young Master? That young man?"
Ji Unhoe scrutinized Seoryang's face once more.
"Now that I think about it..."
There was a time in the past when he had seen Seoryang. It was around the time when he had just been selected as the Third Young Master, when a shadow of a mustache was forming under his nose.
However, no matter how much time had passed, the Seoryang of then and the Seoryang of now were vastly different. Who would have thought the Third Young Master would change so much?
Seoryang grinned slyly.
"Why? Is there something on my face?"
"..."
"And what about a greeting?"
Ji Unhoe, who had been silently observing Seoryang, slowly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"I am Ji Unhoe, the head of the Demonic Sword Family, greeting the Third Young Master."
It was a short and simple greeting. It wasn't that he was looking down on the other, but it was a subtly respectful gesture.
At the same time, the two young men and the swordsmen of the Sword Fragrance Squad, who were lined up behind him, also bowed their heads.
"We greet the Third Young Master."
When they unleashed their energy, it seemed like they could topple a mountain, but their greeting was quiet.
Ji Unhoe spoke.
"I did not know you were the Third Young Master."
"Is that so?"
"Even if I didn't know, rudeness is rudeness, and I acknowledge my mistake. However, as a candidate for the successor of the Divine Cult, you too have shown behavior that deviates from the norms. How about we consider this matter settled?"
It was a neat handling of the situation. Though flustered, he quickly composed himself and hurriedly smoothed over the situation. It was indeed befitting of the head of a family that contends for the top in the demonic path.
Seoryang spoke bluntly.
"Let's do that. I didn't come here to pick a fight either."
It wasn't a particularly trustworthy statement. Of course, there wasn't a single person here who could hold him accountable.
"Thank you. Then, if you'll excuse me..."
"Before that."
"...?"
"The head of the family hasn't answered my question. I'm genuinely curious, so please answer before you leave."
"...If you could remind me of the question, I would be grateful."
"I can tell you anytime. I asked this: as a father, if you witnessed your child's shameless crime, how would you act?"
Ji Unhoe's eyes deepened. He couldn't guess the intention behind such words.
However, everyone was watching. It didn't seem like a good idea to have a prolonged conversation with this high-status, thunderous fool.
"Naturally, it should be dealt with according to the law."
"Dealt with according to the law?"
"Yes."
"The word 'law' is quite ambiguous. Do you mean according to the family's law?"
Ji Unhoe's eyebrows twitched. Why was he asking such an obvious question?
But he couldn't say it was obvious. The face of Seoryang, who was questioning him, was more serious than he had expected.
A moment of silence.
At the end of that heavy silence, Ji Unhoe answered.
"The law of the main family is stricter than any other. If such a moment were to come, I would sternly hold my child accountable."
"Can I understand that to mean you would be even more stern because it's your child?"
A subtle exaggeration.
But it was a difficult place to say no.
Not only were there demonic practitioners from the outer sect, but also those who had come from outside. Furthermore, a few masters from the inner sect were likely watching the situation.
"Yes. How can someone who cannot properly handle their own child lead a family as its head?"
"I see."
"However, I believe. I believe that none of my children, nor any practitioner of the main family, would ever commit such shameless acts."
It was a statement that revealed his pride as the head of the Demonic Sword Family. At least in this statement, Ji Unhoe's sincerity was evident.
Seoryang, who had been quietly watching him, bowed his head.
"I'm sorry to have detained you on your way. Welcome to the Divine Cult."
"Think nothing of it."
Seoryang stepped aside. Then, Madongpil also sheathed his sword and followed him.
The forces of the Demonic Sword Family advanced once more.
Seoryang, who had stepped aside, looked at the two young men following Ji Unhoe.
One was a young man who seemed to be of a similar age to Seoryang. His complexion was somewhat pale, but his sharp eyes and the blade-like aura surrounding his entire body were impressive.
The other was a young man who appeared to be in his late teens. He had a delicate appearance and a gentle impression, but he was also exuding an impressive aura.
"The eldest and third sons of the Demonic Sword Family."
The eldest, Ji Ganghyun, and the third son, Ji Yeonghyun.
Madongpil's eyes sparkled.
"Young Master."
"Yes."
"The aura is much more formidable than I thought. The eldest, Ji Ganghyun... he is not someone to be taken lightly."
"That's right. But..."
Seoryang frowned.
"What is it?"
In Ji Ganghyun's eyes, which boasted a blade-like aura, a clear killing intent was felt.
But that level of killing intent was common among the swordsmen of the martial world. Swordsmen who have killed before are those who have felt the weight of murder. It's natural for their eyes to carry killing intent.
However, Seoryang could read one more thing.
"This guy kills at least once a day, or at least once every two days. Otherwise, the killing intent wouldn't be so vivid and wouldn't overlap like that."
He had delved deeper into the realm of death than anyone else in the martial world. Just by looking at the flowing killing intent, he could tell what kind of hell the opponent had been through.
"Hell? That can't be."
Seoryang's eyes deepened.
"That's not the kind of killing intent one would gain on a battlefield where spears and swords fly."
At first glance, it was similar to the killing intent of any swordsman, but it was more vicious and more wicked.
"It's the killing intent of someone who has murdered unilaterally."
It was literally the gaze of a killer, a murderer.
"The eldest, Ji Ganghyun, is the real culprit... If he really kills someone every two days, that's astounding."
In a year, even at a conservative estimate, it's over 180 people. At this level, it's not enough to be called a demon head.
Seoryang had also carried out three or four assassinations in a day, but all the people he assassinated were martial artists.
It was like a battle, requiring intense focus and extreme concentration.
Ji Ganghyun was different.
Presumably, the people he killed were... likely ordinary civilians who hadn't learned any martial arts.
"Well, as the eldest son of a demonic family, he might actually like being called a demon head."
In any case, it was clear he was a heinous person.
"Moreover, the head of the Demonic Sword Family seemed completely unaware."
He was a meticulous person who could avoid the eyes of a father who was called the Sword King of the Demonic Path.
Moreover, as the eldest son of the family, he would have had daily tasks to handle.
Ferocity, meticulousness, and the ability to manage oneself so that no one around would suspect.
"He's not an easy opponent."
At that moment, Ji Ganghyun subtly turned his head.
When their eyes met, Ji Ganghyun's eyes narrowed. But only for a moment, he turned his head back to the front.
"Is it that hard to have goodwill towards me?"
Well, I would feel the same.
Seoryang patted Madongpil's shoulder.
"Hey, Dongpil, let's head back..."
At that moment, Seoryang felt an ominous sensation crawling up his spine.
He quickly turned his head and caught sight of a young man.
"Young Master?"
"..."
"Young Master!"
"Oh? Oh, oh."
"Let's go."
"Yeah, let's go. Where's Leader Wi?"
"Leader Wi is right here..."
At that moment, as if by magic, Wi Hongryeon squeezed between the two and popped up.
"Were you looking for me?"
"Whoa, you startled me. When did you learn stealth techniques?"
"I'm more surprised. I was calling you from way over there, but you didn't hear me?"
Madongpil also nodded.
"That's right."
"Well, I must have been lost in thought and didn't hear. Anyway, did you finish crying?"
"Ah, come on!"
"Hehe! Got it. Hey, we've seen enough of the outer sect, let's head to the inner sect. I'm bored, let's go have a drink."
"Huh? Is that okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be? There's nothing to do, and we can't just hang around the outer sect forever. It seems like you guys are bored too."
"Hehe, you knew."
"You're so honest, I like it..."
With that, the three of them chatted as they headed to the inner sect.
Seoryang matched their pace and chimed in, but his mind was focused on the young man he had seen earlier.
It wasn't Ji Ganghyun, but the third son, Ji Yeonghyun.
"That guy..."
Seoryang's eyes deepened.
"He's hiding an unbelievable power."
If it weren't for the senses honed by the help of Lee Cheonsang, he wouldn't have detected the subtle fragments of power.
Ji Yeonghyun had at least as much internal energy as himself, or perhaps even more.
"...This is getting more and more interesting."
After making Wi Hongryeon pass out with alcohol in just one hour, Seoryang left his quarters. Following him were Madongpil and Geumho.
"Aren't you drunk?"
"I dispelled the alcohol."
"Why waste the alcohol? If you were going to do that, you shouldn't have drunk it."
"..."
"Yeah, I did tell you to drink it."
"I am your close guard, Young Master. I must protect you at all times."
Seoryang chuckled.
At that moment, Geumho let out a small sound and looked up at him. Keeping pace with the quick steps, it looked up at Seoryang.
"You little rascal, are you coming along too?"
Once in his arms, Geumho burrowed into his front and settled in. It seemed it wanted to come along but was too lazy to walk.
"By the way, Young Master. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to see the Leader of the Joy Pavilion."
"I see."
Seoryang glanced at his waist.
"By the way, you were impressive earlier. Stabbing the sword with a 'thud!' and kneeling with a 'thump!'"
"Ah..."
"Seeing that, you do know how to read the atmosphere. Well done."
Madongpil scratched his head, embarrassed.
"I just couldn't stand the arrogance of the head of the Demonic Sword Family."
"What arrogance? You even exchanged a refreshing eye greeting."
"...Did you see?"
"I did."
"I'm sorry."
Seoryang chuckled.
"I've never seen anyone apologize as much as you. You're like the world's greatest sinner. Why are you sorry for that?"
"Just..."
"You're so stiff. Right, Geumho?"
"Yip!"
"See?"
Madongpil's face became uncomfortable.
He didn't mind hearing anything from the Young Master, but not from that little monster. It was unsettling to feel looked down upon by a fox no bigger than his arm.
Seoryang chuckled.
"You should be nice to Geumho. One day, when you make a mistake, it will be the one to give you a splendid scolding..."
Suddenly, his eyes sparkled.
Madongpil, uncharacteristically, pouted his lips.
"I'll try not to make any mistakes..."
"Duck!"
Swoosh!
A blade of grass sliced through the air.