Chapter 879: Supreme Heavenly Demon.

Two more days have passed since the incident.

The aftermath has been mostly cleaned up. We sent a letter to the main alliance to inform them of the situation.

Now, all we had to do was wrap up the remaining tasks, and we could head straight back to Henan.

“Are you going to the Tang Clan before we leave?”

I nodded at Cheol Ji-seon’s question.

“I have to stop by once.”

“Just once?”

“It’s not the right time to stay longer. I just need to check the commercialization status; if it’s okay, I won’t go twice.”

“Then I’ll contact the merchant guild.”

“Okay.”

As I replied, I checked the letters. Most of them were reports.

As I read them one by one, something came to mind, so I asked Cheol Ji-seon.

“Did you send word to him?”

“Ah, yeah… I sent it.”

Cheol Ji-seon’s expression darkened slightly when I mentioned ‘him’. It was understandable. Cheol Ji-seon had been consistently against letting him in since the beginning.

‘Then it seems like it’ll be dealt with soon.’

“We’ve already made arrangements with the Beggars’ Sect; it should be resolved shortly after he makes a move.”

“If the Daegeol move, that would be a problem in itself…”

‘I’m curious about what U Bong-chwi-gae will do.’

“The Sect Leader of the Beggars’ Sect, who was said to have ties with Father. I wonder how he’ll react. That’s what I was curious about.”

“Because our path forward depended on the Sect Leader’s actions.”

“Alright. Just please contact the merchant guild.”

“Okay.”

After finishing my conversation with Cheol Ji-seon, I immediately got up.

Stepping outside, the day was bright. Was it because the sun was particularly hot today?

‘…Hmm. Rather than that.’

Maybe it’s because there’s something reflecting the sun in front of me. Thinking so, I looked ahead.

“Daeju.”

The thing reflecting the light.

A handsome young man with a sparkling scalp stood before me.

It was Shinryong.

“…What is it?”

Oh, blinding.

Since he was so dazzling, I slightly covered my eyes, and Shinryong furrowed his brow.

“Sorry. But you’re just too dazzling.”

I wasn’t teasing. Or rather, honestly, I did have a bit of a desire to tease him.

“…No, sir.”

“But what is it you always have attached to you?”

“…”

Shinryong blushed slightly at my words. Someone was touching his sparkling scalp.

Naturally, it was Bong-sun. Because the only person who would do something like that here was that crazy thing.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ll peel your skin off like that. Get off.”

“No, no. Oppa Baldy said it’s okay.”

“What a ridiculous title. Aren’t you going to get off quickly?”

When I said it with annoyance, Bong-sun finally moved away with a sullen face. Feeling like it was finally appropriate to talk, I looked at Shinryong.

“Now, tell me… why do you look disappointed?”

“…! Ah, no, sir. What are you talking about…!”

“No, my ass. It’s obvious you look disappointed.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Cross your heart?”

“…”

He can’t even answer this.

“…Honestly, there’s no normal person around.”

I shook my head back and forth and sighed. That damned monk falling for a woman and ending up like this.

The more I look, the more absurd it gets.

‘Of all people, why did he fall for that crazy thing?’

Of course, she looks pretty. Bong-sun isn’t someone whose appearance falls short anywhere, but most people realize within half an hour of meeting Bong-sun.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t get involved with that crazy bitch.’

Getting involved would ruin you in many ways. That’s the kind of feeling one inevitably gets, yet…

It seems that crazy monk doesn’t have that sense at all.

‘Meanwhile, Bong-sun herself doesn’t seem to think much of it.’

She’s just sticking to him because she likes his shaved head. It’s not that Bong-sun feels anything for Shinryong.

Honestly, from my perspective, I wish she felt something and moved away. But that was asking too much.

“Do you like him that much?”

“W-what are you talking about…!”

Shinryong shouted, his face flushing red.

“Th-this humble monk is already devoted to Shaolin. I absolutely do not get swayed by such emotions.”

“Who said anything? I was just asking. If not, then whatever.”

“…”

I felt like probing further would just break this guy.

It’s a mystery why he became like this. But let’s set that aside.

‘What was he like in his past life?’

Suddenly, I became curious about his past life. The guy who betrayed Shaolin and sided with the Demonic Cult.

What was he like back then?

‘I don’t think he was involved with Bong-sun.’

I don’t recall the two of them sticking together. Could this be an anomaly in this life?

It’s highly possible. But somehow, it doesn’t feel entirely like that.

“So, what is it? What’s your business here?”

“…”

Why did he come looking for me in the middle of the day? When I asked about it, his embarrassed expression changed instantly.

‘Hmm?’

He stiffened. His tightly set face showed displeasure.

“What’s with that look?”

“…I am curious why this humble monk was not deployed in the operation.”

At his words, I nodded. Ah, I see.

‘So that’s why he came.’

Now I finally understood.

“Isn’t it good to rest? Did you come here to argue about that?”

I didn’t deploy Shinryong in this operation. I just gave the order to stand by no matter what, and Shinryong didn’t disobey.

He truly did nothing.

And so, today came.

“I do not understand.”

“Why don’t you understand?”

“…I am strong.”

“…Oh?”

What’s with that confidence? It’s true, but hearing him say it himself is really annoying.

“How annoying.”

“…”

So I said it outright. Shinryong’s face instantly turned red.

It seemed he knew it was embarrassing too.

“Yeah, well… you’re strong. You are strong. Right.”

If you were to put it in numbers, he’s among the top five in the Seongryongdae.

Objectively, he’s stronger than Wi Seol-ah right now. As for Namgung Bi-ah…

‘Namgung Bi-ah has the advantage in terms of compatibility, so we’d have to fight to know for sure.’

Wi Seol-ah, despite her rough fighting style, isn’t a martial artist focused on firepower.

Namgung Bi-ah, unlike her delicate sword dance, focuses on firepower.

In this case, Shinryong would likely find fighting Namgung Bi-ah more challenging.

‘If he fought Tang Soyeol, the current Shinryong would be absolutely defeated.’

If Tang Soyeol were to steel himself and decide to kill Shinryong, I predicted Shinryong would likely lose.

The difference in cultivation levels isn’t that large, so it came down to compatibility.

Of course.

‘Even considering that, Shinryong is in the top five.’

Hwajing.

Moreover, a martial artist who has entered the realm of ‘Simsang’, and a promising genius likely to become the next Shaolin Sect Leader.

Even within the Seongryongdae, composed only of the best of the best, he’s top five.

At this level, Shinryong had every right to boast about his strength.

No… perhaps.

‘If he had wanted, he could have become a Daeju.’

Even if not to Ilcheonggeom’s level, if he had wished, the Martial Arts Alliance would have given him a Daeju position.

‘If I hadn’t been around, that is.’

Now, with my existence, it’s impossible, but anyway, Shinryong’s value was by no means low.

That’s why he couldn’t understand.

“Perhaps, are you excluding me because I am from Shaolin?”

This would be an unjust act.

That thought was reflected in his eyes.

Seeing that, I smirked.

“And if that were the case, what then?”

“…!”

His eyes widened. However, there were no further words.

It seemed he hadn’t expected me to actually say yes.

‘As expected.’

Seeing this, I became certain.

‘This guy is fun to tease.’

He’s excessively naive. Can one remain naive even after reaching that level?

‘…But to question that.’

-I love you.

Since there were so many like that right around me, there was no need to doubt it.

So, the teasing stops here.

“It was a joke. Half-joking, but that’s not the reason.”

At my added words, Shinryong let out a quiet sigh.

Does that mean he’s relieved?

If so, I felt a little sorry.

‘The real reason is much worse than this.’

Excluding him just because he’s from Shaolin.

If that were the case, it would actually be better. It would be enough for me to just end up as a petty guy.

However.

“Then… why?”

“You.”

This wasn’t that kind of issue.

“You haven’t killed anyone before, have you?”

“…!”

At my words, Shinryong’s eyes trembled greatly.

His hazy yellow eyes were particularly clear.

“This mission needed to proceed quietly and swiftly. There couldn’t be any hesitation.”

If told to kill, one had to kill.

It meant not caring about his circumstances or backstory.

“Could you have done that?”

“…I can do it.”

“Oh, a divine monk of Shaolin who values life above all else? Doesn’t that go against your principles?”

“…”

It’s not that Shaolin truly never kills.

Even following the teachings of Buddhism, they are martial artists too. When battles occur, lives are lost on both sides frequently, but…

“You definitely would have hesitated.”

“…So, is that why you excluded this humble monk from the mission?”

“That’s right. You were useless for the mission. If things went south, you would have been a hindrance.”

“…”

I drove in words sharp as blades. There was no need to mince words.

Because I had to teach him what he needed to know.

“This humble monk…”

“Don’t make excuses. Can you be truly sure it wasn’t like that?”

“…”

Shinryong closed his mouth.

Seeing that, I inwardly chuckled.

‘Still, he’s not denying it or being stubborn.’

He probably can’t be sure himself. The slight concern is that it shows clearly on his face.

‘That’s not good.’

It’s the kind of impression that makes one easily exploited.

“You.”

Just as I was about to say something, thinking I should point this out a little…

“Daeju-nim.”

A voice cut in from the side.

“The tidying up you mentioned, it’s all finished.”

It was Seong-ryul.

“Oh, really?”

“Will you be moving out right now?”

“Uh, just a moment.”

At his words, I was about to say yes, but then I looked at Shinryong.

“Tell me when you’ve made up your mind. Until then, don’t hold onto any strange stubbornness.”

“…”

“Let’s go.”

I spoke words only Shinryong could understand, then turned my back.

Following Seong-ryul, I started walking.

“My mind… is already made up.”

Shinryong said, looking at my back. I didn’t react much.

I just glanced sideways.

Seong-ryul was looking at Shinryong with a strange expression. I continued walking, observing his gaze.

Then, just as Shinryong’s presence could no longer be felt.

“Hey.”

I called out to Seong-ryul.

He looked at me. Looking into his yellow eyes, I added.

“Between that guy and you, who’s the older brother?”

Tuk.

Seong-ryul’s body froze right there.