The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 078
Practice as You Would Fight
“There are no traces of poison being injected from outside, so we can only surmise that the poison was consumed before the operation even began.”
“Before the operation? How could that possibly be?”
“If they were administered an extremely potent poison beforehand—one that takes considerable time to take effect—then whether the assassination succeeded or failed, the assassins were already dead men walking.”
“Madmen….”
“Whoever orchestrated this, one thing is certain—they are ruthlessly cold-blooded.”
I sat beside the Sect Leader, listening to the Ilwol Palma’s discussion while turning the matter over in my own mind.
Compared to the audacious operation of attacking the Minor Sect Leader and the young lords of the Great Families, the assassins who carried it out were far from exceptional in skill.
This detail had troubled me considerably….
If those who planned the operation had intended to use the assassins as disposable pawns from the start, it made a certain degree of sense.
I did not know who orchestrated this, but their true objective was not my death—it was the very act of bloodshed occurring at that gathering itself.
The question was why they would go to such lengths.
What could they possibly hope to gain from such an act?
“Minor Sect Leader.”
“Ah… yes?”
At that moment, the Sect Leader’s voice calling me broke through my reverie, and I turned to face him.
“What exactly happened yesterday?”
The Sect Leader regarded me with a grave expression.
“What happened, you ask….”
We had been discussing yesterday’s events, and his sudden question caught me off guard.
However, following the Sect Leader’s gaze toward the young lords of the Four Great Families, I grasped his true intent.
‘He’s asking why they look like that.’
The young lords of the Four Great Families had ashen complexions, their eyes half-glazed, and Im Yun Gyeom was even retching intermittently.
Of course, this was the result of last night’s excessive drinking and its aftermath.
Moreover, given what had transpired yesterday, they had likely been unable to rest properly or recover, so I could well imagine their current suffering.
However, I could hardly give the Sect Leader a straightforward explanation.
How could I tell him that at a banquet hosted by the Minor Sect Leader, the young lords of the Four Great Families of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect—whose doctrine strictly forbids alcohol—had drunk themselves into oblivion?
“To be frank, sir….”
I began carefully, gauging the reactions of the Four Great Families’ young lords.
‘…!!’
As expected, they were visibly terrified that their drinking last night would be revealed to the Sect Leader.
If the Sect Leader learned of it, so would their respective Family Heads, and they would face severe punishment.
While it was true that the excessive drinking yesterday was due to my insistence, they had been the ones to first offer me alcohol.
Of course, I was not so rigid as to report yesterday’s events with complete honesty.
“It seems that despite being from noble families, they possess a certain mental immaturity, even if their martial prowess is considerable.”
“…?”
“Not only did they freeze in place the moment the assassin drew his blade, but if I may be so bold as to say….”
“What is it?”
“Some of them lost control of their bladders.”
“Hmm.”
As Noh Jae Won reported the shameful matter without reservation, his face flushed with embarrassment, yet beneath the surface, he seemed relieved.
The others all shared a similar reaction.
They deemed it preferable to suffer a little humiliation rather than have their drinking discovered.
Yet observing their responses, another promising idea flickered through my mind.
“Sect Leader, there is something I wish to discuss with you. Would you hear me out?”
“Speak.”
“There remains considerable time before the Family Heads of the Five Great Families arrive, and my duty until then is to facilitate the young lords’ adaptation, is it not?”
“Indeed.”
“Therefore….”
I addressed the Sect Leader with a serious expression.
My proposal was entirely devoid of selfish intent, conveying instead that it was essential for the sect’s future.
“For the next ten days, would it be permissible for me to conduct martial arts training with the young lords?”
At those words, the Sect Leader’s eyes gleamed with intrigue, while the young lords of the Four Great Families—already pale—turned an even more sickly shade of blue.
“Training?”
“Yes. Since they surely receive fundamental training from their families, I intend to focus primarily on mental conditioning necessary for actual combat.”
“Hmm…. What do you all think?”
The Sect Leader regarded each Palace Master with a serious gaze as he posed the question.
Though he showed no outward sign, it was evident the Sect Leader found the plan genuinely appealing.
After all, he had been hoping the Minor Sect Leader would instill discipline in the young heirs of each family.
“So long as you do not push them excessively….”
“The training could also serve as an opportunity to foster camaraderie among the young lords.”
The senior officials of the Sect Headquarters, having grasped the Sect Leader’s intent, naturally had no reason to object….
“The young lords’ opinion is most important. What do you all think?”
As the Sect Leader posed his question, my steady gaze upon the faces of the Four Great Families’ young lords rendered their answer predetermined.
“Of course, it would be an unparalleled honor to receive instruction from the Minor Sect Leader.”
Thus did I legitimately acquire, with the complete consent of all parties involved, the right to work the young lords of the Four Great Families like dogs.

* * *
I had told the Sect Leader that I would personally oversee their training, but surely I couldn’t roll around in the dirt alongside the trainees simply because I held the rank of Minor Sect Leader.
Over the past five days, the first week of the Minor Sect Leader Camp had been conducted by Young Ho Bin, the training instructor, with admirable diligence and thoroughness.
I had asked Young Ho Bin to structure the training schedule with an emphasis on mental preparation for real combat.
Of course, there is no royal road to preparing for actual combat or mental fortitude.
Wasn’t there a reason the saying “practice as you would fight” existed?
Wasn’t there a reason the saying “a strong spirit emerges from a strong body” existed?
“Push them relentlessly. Until they’re on the verge of collapse. No, push a couple of them until they’re foaming at the mouth and falling. That’s what it takes.”
“My lord… are you serious?”
Young Ho Bin seemed burdened by the prospect of subjecting the young lords of the great families to such rigorous training, even with my orders.
However, given Young Ho Bin’s exceptional competence, his first-rate martial prowess, and above all, the authority of the Minor Sect Leader backing him, he had demonstrated remarkable performance over the past five days.
Considering the content and intensity of the training I had observed, it was remarkable that none of the four trainees had dropped out midway.
I felt almost apologetic for having dismissed them as pampered youths from noble houses.
‘By now, they should all be gathered.’
Today, with the first week of training concluded, I had decided to conduct a mid-point assessment of their progress and hold an informal gathering with the young lords of the Four Great Families.
The intention was to allow them some respite after such grueling training.
Kang So Young, Gong Son Hui, Im Yun Gyeom, Noh Jae Won.
Considering the future political dynamics between the Minor Sect Leader and the Five Great Families, it would not be wise to make enemies of these four young lords unconditionally.
After all, my reason for disciplining them was to secure support from the Five Great Families, was it not?
So today, I intended to commend the trainees for their efforts and demonstrate the Minor Sect Leader’s authority alongside inclusive leadership.
“The Minor Sect Leader has arrived.”
I had decided to hold the gathering modestly in my usual dining place—the Minor Sect Leader’s Private Dining Hall.
I wanted to avoid drawing attention, as I was already nervous enough.
Upon arrival, I found a fairly large table with refreshments and tea service arranged, and the four young lords seated in their respective chairs.
“All rise!”
Snap.
As I approached the head seat, the trainees rose in unison at Young Ho Bin’s command.
“Salute the Minor Sect Leader!”
Snap.
They all performed the fist salute in perfect synchronization—quite disciplined in appearance.
Young Ho Bin had trained them well.
After taking my seat at the head without a word, I gestured for the others to sit.
‘Sigh… why am I so nervous about this?’
Even now, I couldn’t shake my introverted nature.
No matter how much authority I held over them, facing unfamiliar people always made me anxious and tense.
Especially when I had to exercise leadership as the chair of such a gathering.
‘You can do this. It’s nothing. You’ve prepared plenty.’
But as the saying goes, the mind is the master of all things.
After affirming myself like this several times, confidence gradually began to build within me.
After resolving to myself like this several times, I gradually began to feel more confident.
At the very least, today I would not stumble over my words or say something foolish out of nervousness.
I had already devised a clever strategy beforehand.
“I will refrain from speaking at length during this gathering.”
My concept for this informal meeting was that of a superior who listens to his subordinates.
A self-help book I had read in my previous world stated that a good leader is one who listens to what his subordinates have to say rather than monopolizing the conversation.
“I wish to hear what you all have to say—speak freely from your hearts.”
The defining trait of an introvert is that linguistic ability deteriorates sharply in the presence of unfamiliar people.
By “unfamiliar people,” I mean everyone except family and friends of more than a decade’s standing.
Was it not better to hold my tongue rather than stammer or appear foolish before them?
Thus, I would leverage my authority to make these fellows speak in my stead.
“Who shall begin?”
What one might call “leadership through active listening.”
By conducting the meeting without speaking much myself and cultivating the image of a capable superior, I could elevate their loyalty.
I waited for their response while slowly surveying each of the young lords of the Four Great Families.
“….”
Yet they still wore expressions suggesting they did not comprehend my meaning.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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