At some point, the three days that Cheon Jin had promised had all passed.
Although it could be said to be a short period in a way, it was enough time to decide who to fight in the Demonic Position Battle.
"..."
Cheon Myeong was now heading to the leader's palace.
Although he had no desire to go there and meet Cheon Jin, he would still have to tell Cheon Jin who he would fight in the Demonic Position Battle, right?
The opponent is Jo Seokjin.
Cheon Myeong had already decided so in his mind.
'If I get that much Blood Ginseng, what should I do with it?'
All of the Snake Jo Family's Blood Ginseng. Although he did not know the exact number, wouldn't they have at least ten or more?
And if he had just ten Blood Ginsengs, there were many things he could do.
Even if he were to convert it purely into money, it would be worth several thousand... no, more than that.
But rather than selling it, it seemed that it would be a more useful way to use them to have them himself and use them for himself later.
'Well, I don't think that he really said something he could be responsible for in the negotiation.'
To be honest, was it even possible to give away all the Blood Ginseng that the Snake Jo Family had?
No matter how much Jo Seokjin was the young master of the Snake Jo Family, he would not have that much power.
Nevertheless, the reason why he had offered that as a condition in the negotiation was because he was confident that he would never lose in the Demonic Position Battle.
No, to be precise, he had agreed to such an absurd condition because he was confident that he would kill him in that place.
'So he's a fool.'
Wouldn't he realize it? The moment he holds his sword, the fact that he was a fool.
But by then, it was too late to turn back.
Although spilled water could be wiped up with a towel even if it could not be put back in the bowl, the words that had been spoken could not be undone by any means.
'He probably won't be able to give away all the Blood Ginseng.'
Then he would just have to use that as an excuse and make him his slave in the future.
But still, this negotiation could be said to be the right choice for Jo Seokjin.
Because thanks to that, Jo Seokjin would be able to save his own life, which was the most important thing in this Demonic Position Battle.
Originally, he had been planning to kill whoever his opponent in the Demonic Position Battle was, but Jo Seokjin was an exception.
Since he would not be able to get anything from a dead guy. So he would keep him alive.
'By the way, that guy never showed up in front of me for these three days.'
Jang Hyeon and Jo Seokjin had come to see him on the very day he had gone to the leader's palace.
However, the one person who had not come to see him until the three days had passed.
Su Yeongseong had never appeared in front of him until this moment.
'Did he think that I would choose him if he just stayed still? Or did he have the heart to fight then, but his mind changed later?'
Well, if he didn't come, that was that.
Although he had wanted to hear from all the guys fairly, since a huge fish named Jo Seokjin had been caught, he was already satisfied enough.
Thump-.
At that moment, Cheon Myeong, who had suddenly stopped.
And Cheon Myeong's gaze was directed at the person standing in front of him.
'That guy is no gentleman either.'
Su Yeongseong was standing in front of him.
Looking at him, it seemed that he had been waiting for him there.
Since the path he was currently walking on was the only path to the leader's palace, it was unnatural to think that Su Yeongseong was standing there by chance.
'In the end, they all came to see me.'
By the way, to come to see him at such a close time.
Does he think he's some kind of protagonist?
Only the protagonist could be forgiven for appearing at a time like this, and in that sense, he could not forgive Su Yeongseong.
"I thought you would come if I waited here."
"Ah, really?"
"Could I have a word with you for a moment?"
"Well, that doesn't matter, but let me ask you one thing before that."
"What is it?"
"You could have come to see me sooner than now, so why did you come to see me at such a close time?"
As Cheon Myeong asked, Su Yeongseong said with a calm face and a smile.
"Because it would only be troublesome if I came out first."
"..."
"I thought it would be a waste of time and certain to talk when you were heading to the leader's palace like this, Young Master."
So is that it?
Anyway, since his mind might change due to Jang Hyeon or Jo Seokjin even if he spoke early, it would mean that he would speak last.
Well, in a way, as he said, it could be said to be a wise choice that did not waste time.
'He should have used that method depending on the opponent.'
He didn't like the fact that Su Yeongseong had come to see him at such a close time.
Why? Because he didn't see that much desperation in him.
Didn't it feel like an attitude that if he just came out at the end, he would choose him?
Because he felt that way, Su Yeongseong was already at a disadvantage.
"Anyway, I roughly know the reason why you came to see me. Jang Hyeon and Jo Seokjin also came to see me."
"As expected?"
"In that sense, you are at a disadvantage. Unless you bring up a story that will tempt me enough, I will not choose you as my opponent."
"Oh my, a disadvantage already. That's a big problem."
He was saying that with a voice and expression that did not seem like a big problem at all, so it seemed as if he were teasing him.
'As expected, he's a guy I don't like.'
And that was the same for the other Five Great Demonic Family guys, but he had not liked Su Yeongseong for some reason since he had first seen him at the Red Demon Training Ground.
Especially a guy who was smiling like that.
He needed to be careful.
"Hurry up and state your business. I don't want to be late for the leader's palace because of you."
"I can't make the Leader wait. Since you seem to be busy, I will get straight to the point."
"..."
Now, which method will Su Yeongseong choose?
Jang Hyeon had tried to provoke him, and Jo Seokjin had proposed a negotiation to him.
Although he would recommend choosing the latter if he had to choose between the two methods, since what Jo Seokjin had offered was so great, it would be difficult to change his mind unless it was something considerable.
And on top of that, the disadvantage he had given at the beginning.
In fact, it was highly likely that his opponent would be Jo Seokjin as it was.
"I heard that you lost all your internal energy in the past due to Qi Deviation, Young Master."
"...?"
Why on earth was Su Yeongseong bringing up that story in this place now?
Cheon Myeong looked at Su Yeongseong with a puzzled face.
However, hearing Su Yeongseong's following words, a slight tremor occurred on Cheon Myeong's face.
"Do you think that happened because of your own mistake, Young Master?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"I did it."
"..."
"I had played a little prank on the elixir that you ate, Young Master."
Su Yeongseong was still saying that with a smile on his lips.
"Did you perhaps think that such a thing had happened purely because of your own mistake until now?"
"..."
"Then rest assured. Because it happened not by mistake, but by the will of another."
Although Su Yeongseong was still smiling and saying that, not a single trace of a smile could be found on Cheon Myeong's face.
'Qi Deviation... was it caused by what that guy did?'
As Su Yeongseong had said, Cheon Myeong had thought that the fact that his past self had lost all his internal energy due to Qi Deviation was purely because of his own mistake.
Of course, he had told Soyeon Sang that there was a conspiracy there, but that was, after all, a lie he had made up to convince Soyeon Sang at that time.
Since his past self was a lacking guy to the extent that he would fall into Qi Deviation by mistake, he had just thought that that was what had happened.
"Young Master's Qi Deviation... there is a possibility that an external interference may have acted on it."
Jong Seojun had said that to him before.
Since it was said by Jong Seojun, who had treated him himself, not anyone else, it could be said that there was some credibility to those words.
However, the time when he had fallen into Qi Deviation was several years ago.
He didn't think that he would be able to find anything by digging into something that had happened so long ago.
And on top of that, wasn't the owner of this body at that time not him?
So even if he wanted to find out the truth, he had thought that he had no choice but to just bury it.
"Usually, it's normal to die in that state."
"..."
"Should I say that the doctor's skills were good, or was it purely because of your luck that you survived, Young Master?"
"..."
"What do you think was the correct answer, Young Master?"
"...Neither is the correct answer."
After a long silence, Cheon Myeong opened his mouth for the first time.
Although the voice of Cheon Myeong, which had come out after a long time, seemed to be as calm as usual, it was a law that it was quiet before a storm raged.
And the bigger the storm, the bigger the silence.
And that was the same for Cheon Myeong.
Since it was not yet time to rage, he was holding it in.
"..."
At that moment, the smile disappeared from Su Yeongseong's face for the first time.
"You're quite calm."
"..."
"I thought you would be a little more excited when I brought this up, Young Master."
"Do I look calm to you?"
At that moment, one side of Cheon Myeong's lips curled up.
Cheon Myeong said with a sneer.
"If you were thinking of making me angry, you succeeded. Thanks to that, I feel like I want to kill you in this place right now."
"...Oh my, it was a success."
"..."
"I was worried that I might have to say something else."
Su Yeongseong said and smiled again.
"Then can I believe that you will choose me as your opponent in the Demonic Position Battle?"
"Yes."
"That's a relief. It wasn't a wasted trip to come all the way here."
Saying that, Su Yeongseong, who was walking towards the place where Cheon Myeong was.
And at the moment he passed by Cheon Myeong, he said as if he were whispering.
"Then let's meet next time with our rankings on the line."
Thump- thump-.
Su Yeongseong was getting farther and farther away behind Cheon Myeong.
"Wait."
A voice from behind.
Su Yeongseong heard Cheon Myeong's voice calling him and stopped walking.
"You said you might have to say something else to me earlier, right?"
"..."
"Are you also the one who tried to kill Cheon Seong using Hwang Dongyeong?"
Cheon Myeong asked with their backs to each other.
So although the smile had disappeared from Su Yeongseong's face now, Cheon Myeong could not see that.
"I don't think I need to answer that question."
"..."
"Even if I don't answer, won't you choose me as your opponent, Young Master? So there's no need to answer."
Cheon Myeong did not answer those words.
And after a slight silence, Su Yeongseong said again.
"Then I will be on my way."
With those words, Su Yeongseong's back, which was getting farther away again.
Until Su Yeongseong's figure completely disappeared, Cheon Myeong just stood still in his spot.
And not long after Su Yeongseong had disappeared, Cheon Myeong muttered in a small voice.
"Yes, but still, I would choose you."
Cheon Myeong wanted to say this to the departed Su Yeongseong now.
You passed. And.
'You're finished.'
The price for making him this angry must be paid.
(End of Chapter)