"I have decided that... that."
I wavered mid-sentence, unable to speak the words that were meant to follow. Even though I had already given myself time to think it through, I was still uncertain about my decision.
I was afraid of what my choice would bring and the consequences of walking this path, despite the risks it carried as the risks that threatened not only me, but Geonu and the others as well.
It all came down to my decision, just like before, when I had to choose between sealing my meridians or risking eventual sudden death. But this time, there would be nothing to interrupt the consequences of my choice or make the decision unnecessary.
'Was I really ready to put my own life? Along with Geonu's, and everyone else's lives at risk?'
This was an incredibly difficult decision to make. Even though I thought I had already chosen, it wasn't only my life on the line; others might also pay the price for my decision.
Still, I had made my choice, and I wasn't going back on it no matter what. The only thing I lacked was the strength to declare it to Geonu's face as he waited for my answer.
Strangely enough, I suddenly gained that strength when the intense Craving surged forth, agreeing with my decision and forcing the words out from my mouth, loud and proud.
"I have decided that no! I won't be giving up my rights to the throne! Because I will become the next cult leader!"
"Young Master?!"
Geonu couldn't help but shout in surprise. It wasn't that he hadn't expected such an answer as he knew his young master could be very stubborn.
but this time, he had expected him to make the logical choice after overhearing his willingness to give up cultivation just to survive.
Yet despite hearing how dire the situation truly was, the young master remained determined to reach for the throne.
'Young Master… I know why you seek the throne so desperately, but you must be realistic. I wish I would never have to ask you to give it up, but things won't always go your way.'
When it came to cultivation, his young master was persistent. One might think he simply dreamed of becoming a martial artist, but that wasn't the case at all.
Cultivation was merely a means to an end and the same goes with martial arts, they were always intend to help me become the next cult leader, the lord of the Heaven's Death Religious Order.
This was the goal of every young lord, though each pursued it for different reasons. Geonu knew full well why his young master sought to sit on the throne.
"Young Master, why? Can't you see how dangerous this is? I can't let you put yourself in even more danger than you already are!"
"I know, Geonu, more than anyone else, I understand how risky this decision is. But I can't give this up! Not after everything I've worked for! I won't let it all go to waste!"
Geonu tried to convince me one last time, but my resolve didn't waver. This decision was final, no matter what he said or how dangerous the path ahead was.
I had worked far too hard to back down now. Years of countless failures just for a chance to cultivate followed by even more hardship meant that giving up was no longer an option.
The reason I wanted to cultivate in the first place was simple: to be eligible to become next cult leader. Our cult followed the law of survival of the fittest, and strength was a primary requirement.
'Yes, I am afraid. But if I let fear take control, nothing will change and everything will remain stagnant. I must become like flowing water, once I choose a path, I will follow it to the end, even if it leads off a cliff.'
I was fully aware of how dangerous my life would become after this decision, but I was already prepared to risk my life to face 'That Day.' In truth, not much would change.
Perhaps, just as Geonu feared, I might die before 'That Day' ever arrived and regret my choice. But regret only comes after everything is all said and done, so I refused to dwell on it.
All I hoped was that Geonu would understand that giving up my rights as a successor to the throne was something I would never relinquish no matter the cost.
"Young Master…"
Geonu fell silent as he stared at his young master's resolute expression. He knew that once he looked like this, there would be no changing his mind anytime soon.
He had always been stubborn by nature. Once he set his sights on something, he wouldn't stop until he achieved it.
Geonu had been entrusted by the young master's mother, Lady Yeon, to keep him safe. But doing so now would mean shattering his dreams especially after he had finally gained the chance to pursue them.
'Lady Yeon… I know I was meant to keep him safe, but wouldn't it be too cruel to force him to abandon his dreams just to survive?'
Asking the young master to give up had crossed his mind countless times, yet he never had the heart to say it aloud.
The young master had suffered misfortune after misfortune since childhood from his mother's coma ad eventually demise to repeated assassination attempts.
To ask him to give up the dream that might be the only thing giving him a reason to live was something Geonu simply couldn't do.
'Lady Yeon, forgive me for disobeying your last dying wish. I cannot ask him to give this up.. but I swear I will give my life to protect him.'
Protecting the young master had always been his duty. Now, instead of standing in the way of his dream, he would support it while still being there to prevent him from making reckless mistakes.
Perhaps this may have already been a mistake in the first place but he would make sure that the Young Master would not be harmed by the consequences.
Geonu remained silent for a long moment, his unreadable expression making me uneasy. I had expected his disapproval, but not this level of hesitation.
"Young Master… I won't ask you to change your mind. But please, you must stay safe. You can't place yourself in any more danger."
That surprised me. Despite his gentle demeanor, Geonu was incredibly stubborn especially when it came to my safety. I had expected him to argue longer.
I had been prepared to reject him again and again, yet he stopped after only two attempts which was a very odd behavior to see.
Of course, his concern didn't vanish. Once real assassins began targeting me in earnest, I would need a way to survive them.
'Right… Even if I refuse to give up and face real assassins, I'll still need a way to deal with them once they find out that I can— ...find out? That's it?!'
"Hey, Geonu. I think I just found a way to resolve all of this."
"Already?!"
As I searched for solutions, an idea suddenly surfaced, one that felt like the best possible answer. I never expected to find a solution so quickly after just now discovering the problem.
Still, this could work especially since no one except me, Doctor Guyang, and Geonu knew about my newfound ability to cultivate.
"The plan is simple: we don't announce that I can cultivate. Without that knowledge, there won't be a reason for them to send real assassins in the first place."
Geonu was already shocked that I had found a solution so quickly, but hearing the plan itself stunned him even more. He fell silent, carefully evaluating it.
While I did have a lot of experience in dealing with difficult situations didn't mean that I could discard that I could have made mistakes.
With Geonu own vast amount of experience, he could find the flaws I might have overlooked and relay them to me.
"Young Master, it could work, but you're forgetting that the Life and Death Doctor also knows. He could spread the news throughout the cult within days."
"Well… you don't have to worry about that. I've already taken care of it."
Doctor Guyang was from the Guyang Clan, one of the Seven Ghost Clans. Naturally, he might want to report this discovery to his clan but as a doctor, patient confidentiality bound him unless given permission.
I had already forbidden him from revealing my medical condition to anyone except during the medical committee meeting scheduled three months from now. That gave me time.
"What about leaks? There could be spies among the servants. Information like this spreads easily."
That concern was valid. I didn't even know most of the servants backgrounds, age, or even their names, as they were assigned to me by my father.
informants were common thing used to keeps tabs on people especially to me since I'm still considered by as a heir to the throne despite of what they know me as.
This was especially true since I once saw a person which I suspect to be one of the servants in the middle of the night delivering a message using a messenger bird.
"That won't be a problem. We discussed this in private, and we won't tell anyone. If no one knows, nothing can leak."
"Even Miss Bi?"
"Yes. Even her."
"But what if I slip up and accidentally say a word?"
"Then you just have to make sure that you don't."
Geonu seemed pressured to keep something this big to himself especially when something good happens to me he would brag it to everyone and embarrass me.
The pressure of keeping such a secret was immense. Even I wanted to shout this news to the world but I obviously couldn't.
After a while it seems that Geonu found no further flaws in my plan except those two which was good.since it seemed the plan would hold.
It just goes to show that the best solution to a problem is to not have the problem in the first place while having nothing to lose from it.
'With that settled… it's time to talk to Geonu about that.'
"Fine, Young Master. That was a well-made plan. Let us head inside before the other servants grow suspicio—"
"Before that, Geonu, I have something I want to ask you."
"Hm? You may ask me anything, Young Master."
Just as Geonu was about to step inside, I stopped him, hoping to speak with him about something different, something important that I needed to discuss as soon as possible.
This was a topic I had been planning to bring up ever since I gained the ability to cultivate. I had simply been waiting for the right opportunity to talk about it.
Now that the moment had finally arrived, I could not help but feel nervous. At the same time, I was incredibly excited, my heart pounding with the intense craving that urged me to hurry up and say the words already.
"Geonu, teach me martial arts."
"?!!"
I finally said it. I asked Geonu to teach me martial arts, something I had begged him for countless times as a child. Back then, I had pleaded again and again, far too immature and unaware of my inability to cultivate.
The only reason I eventually stopped was because I realized that even if he agreed, I would never be able to properly learn martial arts without cultivation.
But now, with that no longer an issue, I could confidently ask him once more. This time, he had no reason to refuse, none at all.
"Me? Teach you? Are you certain? Would you not prefer to be taught by someone more capable? I could call for a better teacher."
"No. I don't want anyone else to teach me. If there is anyone who can teach me martial arts, I know it's you."
Geonu seemed uncertain about my choice. He even offered to find someone better, but why would I choose anyone other than him?
Though Geonu was an old man and did not look particularly impressive, I remembered from my previous life that he was quite famous within the cult, known for something unique.
More importantly, I could not trust anyone but Geonu with this matter. I was hiding the fact that I now have the ability to cultivate, so asking a stranger to teach me would be unwise.
"Geonu, I once heard that you are the greatest master in the entire cult. Of course I would choose you. You are also the only person I trust enough to teach me martial arts."
"Young Master…"
Geonu looked as though he was on the verge of tears from my praise. While it was true, he really was far too soft-hearted.
I had always wanted to learn martial arts. Even if someone of far greater status agreed to teach me, I would still choose Geonu as my first mentor.
He had been with me through my ups and downs, never leaving my side until the day he passed. That was why I was even willing to face that day just to protect him and the others.
"Very well, Young Master, I will teach you martial arts. I promise to turn you into a solid martial artist."
"Yes! Finally!"
At last, Geonu agreed to become my martial arts teacher, and I could not contain my joy. I openly celebrated, thrilled that I would finally be able to learn martial arts.
I was so excited that I wished we could start immediately, even though it was already night.
None of that mattered. As long as I could fulfill my long-awaited dream of practicing real martial arts and performing superhuman feats as a martial artist, I was satisfied.
"Then when shall we start? Tomorrow? Early in the morning? At noon? Or maybe even at night so I can learn in secr—"
"Woah, woah, Young Master, Do not rush. I understand your excitement, but doing this hastily is—"
"I know we can't start today, but I'm afraid I might explode from excitement if I wait any longer without knowing when we'll beg—"
Growl!
My stomach betrayed me before Geonu could finish his sentence.
The sudden noise caused both of us to fall silent. My excitement vanished instantly, replaced by embarrassment.
Only then did I realize that I had barely eaten since Doctor Guyang arrived. I had been starving without even noticing, distracted by everything that had happened.
"Haha… Well, Young Master, it seems you are quite hungry. Why don't we head inside and eat first?"
"But Geonu, you still haven't answered my question."
"Alright, alright. We will start tomorrow morning, So sleep early. We have a big day ahead."
"Yes, Geonu!"
I finally learned when my martial arts training would begin and it was exactly when I had hoped: tomorrow morning, as early as possible.
Geonu must have noticed my impatience and excitement, deciding to start as soon as he could since he knew I would not be able to endure waiting any longer.
As we headed inside the house, Geonu casually mentioned something that shattered my excitement entirely, replacing it with sheer terror.
"Oh, Young Master! I noticed it was almost time for dinner, so I prepared a delightful meal while you were spending time with the Life and Death Doctor."
"R-really? You shouldn't have…"
"Oh, Young Master, it is only natural that I prepare your meal. Do not be shy and just enjoy it."
'I mean it… you really shouldn't have.'
"Let us hurry to the dining room before your meal grows cold."
'Damn it, no! Lord Heavens Death! Black Tortoise! please save me!'
****