I opened my eyes.
I had opened and closed my eyes countless times in my life, but never had I been as desperate as I was this time.
Please, let me return to a time when I can undo it all.
Please!
And what unfolded before my eyes was a scene that compensated for all the hardships I had suffered before my regression.
I was standing on a training stage as wide as a plaza.
Beyond the thousands of powerful martial artists filling the audience seats, I could see giant demon statues.
The red, blue, and yellow demon statues were shaped as if they were clashing with each other, centering around the training grounds.
Their massive swords, blades, and fists served as the roof of the training stage.
And beyond them, in the distance, an even larger statue stood tall.
The black demon statue, looking down on the world arrogantly with its arms crossed, was the very symbol of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
'I've returned to the past!'
My heart began to pound as if it would burst.
"Waaaaaah!"
Cheers erupted from all sides, as if celebrating my return.
The demonic practitioners of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect filled the area around the training grounds.
'Come to think of it, today is!'
Just then, a man from the opposite side stepped onto the training stage.
'It's the day of the Divine Demon Tournament.'
Around this time, my father had made the bombshell announcement that the next Cult Master would not be limited to his own blood.
The sect was in an uproar over the announcement.
Now, anyone could become the Heavenly Demon as long as they had the skill.
As if to add weight to his announcement, my father held a martial tournament for the sect's rising generation of martial artists.
That was the Divine Demon Tournament.
And he gave the winner of the Divine Demon Tournament a chance to challenge one of his two sons.
Regardless of whether the winner or his son won, the Heavenly Demon promised to grant the victor one wish.
So, how intense must the fervor of the Divine Demon Tournament have been? A large number of the sect's young martial artists participated to test their mettle.
After ten days of fierce competition, a winner emerged, and the opponent he chose was me.
"Geom Mugeuk! Geom Mugeuk!"
The heroes chanted my name.
The very name the Ghost Spirit Master was so desperate to know.
I am Geom Mugeuk, the younger of the Heavenly Demon's two sons.
As the heroes cheered for Geom Mugeuk, my opponent, the tournament winner, scowled deeply.
"Hmph! The name they shout will be different when this match is over. I won't go easy on you just because of who you are."
At the time, I was displeased that he had chosen me.
It meant he saw me as an easier opponent than my brother.
But looking back, there was another reason why the bastard chose me.
"How about you forfeit now?"
The bastard was already certain of his victory.
And in truth, I lost this duel.
It wasn't because I lacked skill.
It was because of my opponent's petty scheme.
My opponent had bribed my kitchen chef to lace my food with an energy-dispersing poison that would temporarily render me unable to use my inner energy.
It wasn't a typical energy-dispersing poison.
It was a special kind that showed no signs when one was resting, but would scatter one's inner energy in a strenuous situation like a duel.
I found out later.
It was an energy-dispersing poison called Black Fly, developed by the Unorthodox Alliance and secretly circulated in the market.
In any case, after losing the duel that day, I told my father the truth, but he said nothing in particular.
I remember him giving me a look that seemed to scold me for falling for such a paltry trick.
After that, I made one reckless move after another to make up for that day's defeat.
My enemy at the time wasn't my brother or the other successor candidates.
My enemies were my own impatience and my wounded pride.
Every time I closed my eyes, I recalled my father's gaze looking at me with pity.
A series of mistakes and failures followed, and I tripped over my own feet, falling further and further away from the succession contest.
It all started with today's defeat.
Standing at that fateful turning point, my first words were this.
"What was your name again?"
Laughter erupted from the crowd, and my opponent's expression hardened.
He probably thought I was mocking him, but I truly couldn't remember his name.
"To disregard me, Gu Pyeong-ho, is the same as insulting my master!"
"Ah, right. It was Gu Pyeong-ho."
Gu Pyeong-ho, the fifth of seven disciples of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Gu Cheon-pa, one of the Eight Demon Sovereigns.
He probably won the Divine Demon Tournament by using all sorts of cowardly tricks, I'm sure of it.
"Hey, you should speak clearly. I'm disregarding you, why are you dragging your master into this?"
Laughter broke out among the heroes.
It was the laughter of the demonic practitioners aligned with the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign, who did not get along with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"Second Young Master! Seeing how you're provoking me like this, you must be confident in your skills."
I ignored his words and looked towards the Heavenly Demon, who was seated on the seat of honor in the distance.
Even in a place with thousands of demonic practitioners, he exuded a distinct presence that screamed, 'I am here.'
If you brought someone who didn't know my father and asked them to find the Heavenly Demon here, they would surely find him.
My father's presence was like seeing a blood-red circle in a black and white painting.
On either side of my father sat the Eight Demon Sovereigns, the eight masters representing the Main Sect.
They were only humbling themselves because my father was beside them; they too possessed powerful presences.
My eyes met my father's.
In his gaze directed at me, I read his thoughts.
How will you overcome this predicament?
It was a look I had never felt at the time.
'Ah! Father already knew that I had been afflicted with the energy-dispersing poison.'
To think he was aware of everything, even while pretending to be indifferent and ignorant of the succession struggle.
The same event as the past was unfolding, but I could tell it was a completely different situation.
'He knew everything? In that case….'
Tattling after being defeated like before is the worst strategy.
Postponing the match because of the poison is a mediocre strategy.
Winning even without inner energy is the best strategy.
Of course, I had to use the best strategy.
I was no longer the shaggy-haired brat from back then.
I had lived a much longer life than even my father.
In truth, someone like Gu Pyeong-ho is nothing more than a one-move opponent, even if I fight without inner energy.
However, I couldn't reveal my true skills with so many demonic practitioners watching.
I raised my hand high, drawing everyone's attention.
Then, I spoke in the loudest voice I could muster.
"In this place where the heroes of our sect have gathered, I will declare this proudly. I will face Gu Pyeong-ho without using inner energy! I am confident I can win even without using inner energy!"
After my declaration, a moment of silence was followed by a thunderous roar.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
In contrast, Gu Pyeong-ho's face visibly contorted.
He had not expected me to come out like this.
He must be dying to ask.
―How did you know about the energy-dispersing poison? It's a poison that only activates when a fight breaks out.
You're dying of curiosity, aren't you?
In any case, if he were the only one to use inner energy in this situation, he would be branded a coward.
Overcome with bewilderment, Gu Pyeong-ho shouted with a beet-red face.
"If the Second Young Master insists, then I too will not use my inner energy."
He reacted just as I expected.
A few of his followers clapped, but there were no cheers.
His choice had turned what could have been an exciting fight between one with inner energy and one without into a boring fight between two men with no inner energy.
I could even hear disappointed sighs.
Gu Pyeong-ho was flustered, and that bewilderment turned into anger directed at me.
"Second Young Master! Even if we don't use inner energy, my blade has no eyes, so you had best be careful."
I let his warning pass over me as I examined my body.
The unfamiliar sensation of having a young body dominated me.
The sword I used back then felt as light as a toy.
'Will this body really move as I intend?'
Gu Pyeong-ho drew his blade with great vigor, but I did the opposite, unfastening my sword and placing it on the ground.
The chances of revealing my true skill were higher if I used a sword.
Cheers erupted once again.
Wasn't it in the nature of demonic practitioners to cheer when someone thoroughly disregarded and mocked their opponent?
Naturally, Gu Pyeong-ho's anger exploded.
"Since you are the Cult Master's flesh and blood, I won't kill you, but I will take one of your arms!"
The moment he finished speaking, Gu Pyeong-ho leaped toward me, closing the distance and bringing his blade down, aiming for my shoulder.
Swiiish!
I watched the approaching blade until the very last moment before twisting my body to evade it.
'Good, very good!'
My worry about whether my body would move as I willed was unfounded.
It responded instantly, faster and more energetic than I expected.
It was as if my body was saying…
―Have you forgotten? This is you in your youth.
A time when I felt like I could run all day, a time when my clenched fists felt like they could shatter anything.
'At this age, my heart beat so vigorously!'
A smile naturally formed on my face.
I was so happy I felt like shouting for joy.
Seeing my smile, Gu Pyeong-ho went even more berserk.
"This crazy bastard is smiling?"
His eyes bloodshot, Gu Pyeong-ho blatantly swung his blade, aiming for my vital points.
He was the type who might even use his inner energy to emit blade energy, so I didn't drag it out any longer.
Dodging the blade that persistently tried to sever my arm, I rushed toward his chest.
Gu Pyeong-ho let out a desperate gasp and tried to defend, but my elbow was already digging into his solar plexus.
Thwack!
I stuck to the recoiling Gu Pyeong-ho like a shadow.
My fists struck him consecutively.
The first quick blow shattered his nose, and the second heavy punch broke his ribs.
Even without using inner energy, we were martial artists who had trained since we were young.
We could kill a cow with our bare hands; there was no way his body could withstand it.
I didn't stop there.
As he collapsed with a scream, I snatched his wrist.
"Which hand did you use to administer the poison? This one?"
Holding his arm, I leaped up and then stomped my foot down hard.
Kwang.
Using the force that traveled up from the sole of my foot through my entire body, I used my knee as a fulcrum and broke his arm.
Kkwa-deu-deu-deu-deuk!
The shockwave that spread like a tidal wave completely shattered his wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Even without the horrifying scream, everyone could tell.
With the arm and shoulder he used to wield his blade completely shattered, his career was over.
Cheers erupted from all sides.
"Waaaaaah!"
It wasn't a clumsy victory, but a decisive one with plenty of spectacle, satisfying everyone.
The demonic practitioners on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's side booed, but their jeers were drowned out by the unending cheers.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, seated in the audience, showed no expression as his disciple was crushed, merely observing the situation.
As the excitement, cheers, and moans of pain subsided, my father finally rose from his seat.
The red dragon embroidered on my father's pure white ceremonial robe looked as if it would ascend to the heavens at any moment.
The Eight Demon Sovereigns who were with him all rose at once.
Chwaaaaaaaak.
Like a spreading wave, every demonic practitioner in the hall rose from their seats and paid their respects to the absolute ruler.
Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin.
The strongest of this era.
…for now.
My father looked at me.
His gaze was so powerful it felt like it could pierce through my body.
Back then, I was terrified of my father.
I don't think I ever properly met that intense gaze of his, which seemed to look down on people.
So, how could I have ever had a proper conversation with him?
In the end, my perception of my father was built on assumptions, prejudices, and rumors.
I want to tell my past self this.
When it comes to relationships, don't just imagine things on your own.
Look clearly, and listen properly.
The answer isn't inside you.
The other person is right over there.
I did not avoid my father's gaze.
What was so scary about that expression? There was just a man trying not to lose his authority to rule over ten thousand demons amidst countless challenges and schemes aimed at his position.
The heartlessness and curtness were just a result of that.
I can see now what I couldn't see back then.
"What is your wish?"
My father's deep, heavy voice, even without being imbued with inner energy, reached everyone's ears and had the power to make the listener shrink.
Everyone listened intently for my answer.
The Eight Demon Sovereigns beside him, in particular, were on edge, waiting to see what I would say.
"My wish is…"
I hadn't expected to return to this day, so I followed my instincts.
"I wish to go hunting with you, Father."
Perhaps it was an unexpected request, as my father flinched in surprise.
The demonic practitioners watching also began to murmur.
They never imagined I would make such a wish.
They must have expected me to ask for a treasured sword or a martial arts secret manual, since a wish to become the successor wouldn't be granted.
"Hunting with me?"
"Yes. Just the two of us. I heard you enjoyed hunting in your youth, Father. I would like to take this opportunity to learn how to hunt."
After staring at me silently for a moment, my father spoke curtly.
"We leave at dawn tomorrow."
Having said his piece, my father began to walk away.
The red Heavenly Demon walked alone in the black and white picture, and all the demonic practitioners bowed their heads.
Not even a breath could be heard in the place where thousands had gathered.
Only after the Heavenly Demon and the Eight Demon Sovereigns had left did a venomous voice break the silence.
"That idiot. To make such a pathetic wish…"
I turned to see Gu Pyeong-ho being carried away by his martial brothers, his arm hanging limp.
I scratched my head and said to him.
"Sorry. What was your name again?"
Ignored until the very end, Gu Pyeong-ho shrieked.
"Aaaaaaargh! Kill him! Senior Brother! Please, I'm begging you, kill him!"
But with the duel over, no one dared to attack me.
They merely glared at me coldly before carrying Gu Pyeong-ho away.
'Now that I'm back, your reckless lives won't be so fun anymore.'
I was grateful to the heavens for sending me back to the most important turning point of my life.
And although he tried to betray me, I was also thankful to the Ghost Spirit Master who completed the Great Art.
'I'm truly grateful.'
I looked up at the bright blue sky, as fresh as my current age, and smiled brightly.