Chapter 31. The Grand Plan (2)
Heavenly Demon has not only reached the state of Extreme Demon Realm but has also become the leader of the Demonic Cult, preparing for an invasion.
I had guessed as much, but hearing it directly still delivered a greater shock.
To think that someone with such talent had been planning the downfall of the martial world for fifteen years... no, perhaps even longer.
Looking back now, before the Righteous Alliance was formed, when the Nine Great Clans and the Five Great Families were half-destroyed, Heavenly Demon never once faltered or hesitated. He trampled the Central Plains with an unstoppable force, as if cutting through bamboo.
No matter how overwhelming Heavenly Demon's power may be, surely the long-standing strength of those who had ruled over the Central Plains could not have been ignored.
Until now, I had thought that the results were simply due to Heavenly Demon's absurdly unmatched martial prowess and the complacency of the renowned righteous sects. But… perhaps there was a meticulous plan behind it all.
I let out a deep sigh, only to feel a large, yet strangely elegant, hand rest on my shoulder.
"Now then. The interrogation is over, so don't we have something to discuss?"
"Nothing happened last night, Father-in-law."
"That's important too, but that's not the topic I wanted to discuss."
Tang Jincheon applied subtle pressure to the hand resting on my shoulder as he spoke.
"How did you know about the mental restrictions of the Demonic Cult? No—while we're at it, why not spill everything else too? If it were just one or two things, I might have let them slide, but with so many, that's no longer an option."
"Can't we resolve this in light of the bond between a future father-in-law and his son-in-law?"
"I'm willing to be reasonable. I'm not trying to force you into anything."
"Then…"
"I just want to know. If I understand the situation, I might be able to help you. Just as you helped me and Sowol, I'd like to do the same."
While I hesitated over how to respond—
Wooong—
Tang Jincheon deployed his qi, forming an energy barrier that surrounded the entire room.
"Now, no one can hear what we say here. I promise I won't reveal your secrets to anyone, so long as they pose no harm to the Tang Clan or Sowol."
"With such assurance… very well."
I never truly believed I could keep it a secret forever. Nor did I have much reason to keep it hidden.
The only reason I'd concealed it was to avoid being dismissed as insane.
If they truly believed me, and I could receive their help, what reason was there to keep it from them?
Resolving myself, I opened my mouth to speak. But—
No words came out.
It wasn't hesitation. My mind was clear, and my thoughts were already organized.
But, against my will, my tongue froze. My lips stiffened unnaturally, and my throat only trembled, incapable of even producing a sound.
Perhaps noticing my strange state, Tang Jincheon asked in a concerned tone:
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
This time, my response flowed out smoothly. Once again, I steeled myself, preparing to reveal the truth about my regression.
But once more, my body froze.
Something incomprehensible was happening against my will.
The sensation was awkward, unnatural, and undeniable: as though someone, somewhere, was preventing me from speaking.
No matter how many times I tried, the outcome remained the same. Even when I attempted to write instead of speak, my body stiffened as though locked in place by some invisible restraint.
Realizing I was stuck in awkward silence, Tang Jincheon gently patted my shoulder with a warm gaze.
"As I said earlier, I'm not trying to force you. Don't strain yourself."
"I apologize. It seems my words won't come easily. But I promise you this: I will never do anything to harm the Tang Clan or Tang Sowol."
"Very well. If it's difficult to talk, then it's better left unsaid. Just remember this: the Tang Clan's doors are always open to you. I'll wait until you're ready."
Tang Jincheon withdrew the energy barrier with a nod. Though I was grateful for his consideration, I couldn't fully appreciate it at the moment.
Someone had placed mental restrictions on me.
That realization struck me as I parted ways with Tang Jincheon and leaned against a tree in a secluded spot to gather my thoughts.
There was no visible trace of the restriction. Even as I scanned my inner self and searched every inch of my body with my internal energy, I could sense no abnormalities.
But the restriction was undeniably there—preventing me from revealing anything about my regression.
Who could have done this? And why?
"Ah."
Thinking deeper, the answer became obvious.
How could something as absurd as bringing a dead person back to life and sending them to the past be possible?
Compared to such an unimaginable phenomenon, a mental restriction seemed almost trivial.
More importantly, anything that defies the natural order always comes with a price.
Just as a martial artist's body and mind become corrupted by practicing evil methods, I, having experienced the reversal of the heavens through regression, was bound to face consequences.
But why must I be unable to share my regression? How does that serve as a price?
Suddenly, I recalled Tang Sowol's words from the previous night—how she felt I was looking at someone else, not her.
Even though the current Tang Sowol resembles the one I remember, they are fundamentally different people.
Their pasts are distinct, and the current Sowol shares no memories with me. She cannot be exactly the same.
The Tang Sowol I loved is gone, forever out of reach. The person before me is merely someone who resembles her.
Is that it?
This small but insurmountable gap—a truth I cannot share with anyone, leaving my inner turmoil to fester.
A life of being misunderstood is undoubtedly a painful one, but it is no longer unbearable.
Last night, Tang Sowol had already declared that she knew I was seeing someone else in her place.
Yet, she boldly vowed to make me fall for her instead.
What more could I ask for?
For now, the mental restrictions were of greater concern.
Until now, I had dismissed my regression as an inexplicable phenomenon—an act of sheer luck.
But perhaps that wasn't the case.
What if there was intent behind it? What if whoever orchestrated this was a being beyond my comprehension?
The thought sent chills down my spine.
The idea of someone vast and incomprehensible watching me filled me with a momentary sense of helplessness.
But the feeling did not last long.
Regardless, I'd been granted a second chance at life—a chance to rectify my mistakes.
Rather than fear, I should feel gratitude.
As I gazed blankly at the sky, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Brother Cheon? Why are you out here instead of inside?"
"I was thinking about you, Tang Sowol."
"W-What? That's… why would you say something so embarrassing out of nowhere?"
"You asked, so I answered honestly."
"You said it knowing how I'd react, didn't you?"
"Well, I won't deny that."
At my unabashed reply, Tang Sowol pouted briefly before letting out a chuckle and leaning against the tree beside me.
"I heard from my father. Thanks to you, the interrogation ended quickly when it was expected to drag on."
"I only did what I could."
"Most people would call that remarkable."
Tang Sowol idly kicked a pebble at her feet, then reached out to tug on my sleeve, moving even closer.
Her delicate pinky finger intertwined with mine as she whispered:
"Next time, I'll be the one to help you, Brother Cheon."
"Hmm? What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I said. You've always been the one helping me, haven't you? I want to return the favor."
"There's no need. I did it because I wanted to."
"Hmph. That was a roundabout way of saying you like me, wasn't it? I won't let you get the reaction you're expecting!"
"All I meant was that I acted out of my own will."
"Wha—?"
"They say people only see what they want to see. Were you hoping to hear those words from me?"
"I-I… No!"
Flustered, Tang Sowol stomped her feet. Watching her react so dramatically, I couldn't help but laugh, and the lingering unease I felt began to fade.
Yes, this is enough.
What does it matter, one way or another?
What's important is that Tang Sowol is by my side, and I've been given another chance.
I vowed not to let it slip away again.
As I tightened my grip on her hand, interlocking our fingers completely, Tang Sowol froze for a moment. Her fingers squirmed briefly before she quickly pulled her hand away, her face flushed.
She must have found it too embarrassing to be the one holding hands passively.
"I-I'll be going now. It's getting dark, so you should head inside too, Brother Cheon."
"Will you sneak into my room again tonight? If so, I'll leave the door unlocked."
"W-What are you talking about?! Get some rest instead! We're leaving as soon as you're ready tomorrow!"
With that, Tang Sowol scurried off.
Watching her retreating figure, I let out a small laugh.
Now, my course of action was clear.
First, I would finish healing my internal injuries. Then—
"I must grow stronger."
Stronger than I was in my previous life.
No—stronger even than the monstrous Heavenly Demon.
***
A Few Days Later
With all my external injuries healed and most of the demonic qi lingering in my meridians burned away, the time to discuss returning home had arrived.
Even though I had come all the way to Guangdong Province, a place I used to frequent in my past life, it felt regretful to have stayed cooped up in the inn the entire time.
Since we'd be leaving tomorrow, I figured I might as well take a look around before we departed. Who knew when I'd step foot in Safar (Unorthodox Factions) territory again?
"I never thought I'd find myself missing this place," I muttered.
The darkening sky gradually brightened with street lanterns. Some people carried the exhaustion of the day as they returned home, while others embraced the drudgery of their nighttime work.
At first glance, it resembled the night markets often seen in Sichuan Province, but there was a peculiar atmosphere lingering in the scenery before me.
The unique night air of unorthodox territories.
Of course, even among such regions, there was a significant difference between Zhejiang Province and Guangdong Province.
Zhejiang, being the base of the Black Lotus Sect, carried an underlying sense of dread toward its swordsmen. The atmosphere was generally more ruthless, and violence, especially sword fights, occurred frequently.
Guangdong, however, was vastly different due to the dominant influence of the Hao Gate.
Here, it was flamboyant, decadent, and... squalid.
But strangely enough, it didn't feel entirely unpleasant.
No one here was truly alone. They were all scraping the bottom of the barrel of life together.
In the Hao Gate's territory, there was a peculiar comfort in their shared misery.
Lost in thought, I aimlessly wandered the bustling night streets, relishing the rare experience.
But that was as far as I would go.
As the Tang Clan's prospective son-in-law, I couldn't allow myself to get too caught up in such a place.
I was just about to head back to the inn when—
"You damned wench! I told you I'd break your legs if you tried running away again!"
"Kyahhh! Go ahead, you bastard! If you think you can, just try it!"
The scream, accompanied by familiar curses, grabbed my attention.
I turned my head toward the commotion and spotted a face I recognized all too well.
Why is that person here...?