"Jaha," he called. The first guardian kept his composure as he heard Junghwa speak to him in his mind.
While surprised by his use of the distant whispering technique, he replied anyway.
"Yes, my lord."
"What would I have to do to bring a certain person back with us?"
Jaha frowned as he followed his line of sight and his eyes expanded when he saw who Junghwa was staring at. It was the boy they had met several weeks ago. Jaha barely managed to contain his surprise. Of all the people in the coliseum, Junghwa had set his sights on him? The young man who had dared to meet his master's gaze so boldly in the market?
He schooled his expression, careful not to give anything away as he responded through their mental link. "You could simply take him, my lord. But I imagine that wouldn't sit well with the crowd—or his current guardian."
Junghwa's lips curled slightly, a hint of mirth flickering across his pale face. "Indeed. It would be quite a spectacle, wouldn't it? But even I must abide by the rules of this realm."
Jaha snorted under his breath, his arms crossing as he considered the predicament. "Then why not create a situation that would allow you to take him then?"
Junghwa hummed, an idea formulating in his mind. "Since I am already here," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly through the coliseum, "why not make things more interesting?"
The murmuring crowd fell silent at his sudden declaration. Even the sect leader, who had been barely restraining his irritation, narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Junghwa took a slow step forward, every movement deliberate, his presence commanding attention without effort. "I came to witness the talent of the Eastern region, but I must admit, I had another reason for attending."
Another murmur rippled through the audience.
"I am searching for a disciple."
Chaos ensued.
The moment the words left his lips, the coliseum exploded into a frenzy. Gasps, whispers, and even outright shouts filled the air. It was unheard of—Baek Junghwa, the Demon Lord, taking on a disciple? Any young cultivator would give their soul for such an opportunity. And there was a reason for that.
Unlike other sects who function just like royalty—with the heir of the leader inheriting the position, the Blood Moon Sect was different. Becoming the direct disciple of the Demon Lord meant they had the potential to become the next Demon Lord. Wooyun's eyes widened when he heard this.
Nothing like this had ever occurred in the novel. The Demon Lord never declared he was looking for a disciple because outsiders were usually unwelcome in the north. This was the case for multiple reasons, like a lot of people couldn't endure the harsh weather and tough competition, but it was also because the north wasn't interested in opening themselves up to the outside world.
The sect leader's jaw tightened, and Eun-woo, standing in front of Wooyun, immediately tensed.
"As you all know," Junghwa continued, ignoring the rising excitement, "I rarely involve myself in the affairs of righteous or neutral sects. However, after seeing such remarkable talent today, I find myself compelled to offer this chance."
The way he said remarkable talent made some of the more arrogant young warriors preen with self-importance, already imagining themselves as his chosen one.
But Junghwa wasn't looking at them.
His eyes, sharp and knowing, swept over the crowd before settling back on the one person who had piqued his interest from the beginning.
Wooyun.
He saw through the layers of disguise, through the muted presence, through the fragile act of insignificance. A corner of his mouth lifted in genuine amusement. Even with all that powder, he still looks the same.
Wooyun, to his credit, did not look away. But beneath his calm exterior, his mind was racing.
This wasn't in the book. In the book, Seo-yoon was supposed to bump into him, and it would be love at first sight. The demon lord would be unable to take his eyes off her, and the two would converse with each other afterwards. Seo-yoon would tell him everything she had been through and the demon lord would offer to help her, to take her away from this place in exchange for her heart.
So what the hell was up with this situation? We've completely lost the plot here.
Junghwa's smile widened. "I wonder," he mused aloud, "if anyone here is bold enough to step forward." The anticipation in the coliseum was palpable. Dozens of eager warriors straightened their backs, already preparing to declare themselves.
But Junghwa wasn't interested in them.
His gaze, heavy with intent, never left Wooyun.
He would have him.
Kang Choon-hee's eyes glistened as soon as she heard those words come out of his mouth. Once she had recovered from her shock, of course. Though her body was still trembling from fear, her sharp mind was hard at work. She knew her son wasn't fit to become the top martial cultivator here, and she knew that although the idea of being trained under the Blood Moon Sect was enticing—most would rather die than become an official disciple. Plus, there was the matter of having to move to the north.
Having been used to sunny weather, no one wanted to be exposed to such harsh conditions. So she knew that a good majority of the people here wouldn't accept such an offer. And so, this was the perfect opportunity for her son to become strong.
Her gaze moved to Yu-jun, and the boy already knew what she was thinking and there was no way in hell he would accept such a proposition. Yu-jun stiffened under his mother's gaze, already dreading what was to come. He had no desire—none at all—to set foot in the Demon Lord's domain. The mere thought of it sent a chill down his spine. The Blood Moon Sect was infamous for its brutality, its disciples feared and despised in equal measure. No matter how powerful Junghwa was, no matter how much prestige came with being under his tutelage, Yu-jun refused.
Choon-hee, however, had other plans.
"Yu-jun," she said, her voice low but urgent. "This is an opportunity you must take."
Yu-jun clenched his fists. "Mother, I—"
"You will." Her fingers dug into his wrist, her expression unreadable but her intent unmistakable. "No one else here would dare to accept his offer. If you do, it will set you apart."
No one else would dare—and they had every reason not to. Hesitation settled in the crowd, and the sect leader had a triumphant look on his face as if to say, "take that, you fiend. Who would ever dare follow you?"
A gentle smile settled on Junghwa's face, despite the air being filled with tension. He looked relaxed and at peace, not in any hurry to get an answer. Choon-hee saw the reluctance in the crowd and knew she had a chance to maneuver this in her favor.
But before she could push Yu-jun any further, a voice interrupted.
"I'll do it."
The words were quiet but firm, slicing through the tense silence like a blade.
Choon-hee's breath caught in her throat.
Slowly, as if the moment itself were stretching impossibly thin, she turned her head—along with the rest of the audience—to the source of the voice. Wooyun stood there with Eun-woo just behind him. The young man's eyes went wide. "Just what are you doing?!" He exclaimed.
This wasn't some trivial matter he could decide without proper consideration. He would be going into the lair of a beast. Eun-woo couldn't understand what Seo-yoon was thinking. Even if he had been kept away from the rest of the world for so long, he must've known who that man he was ready to follow was. He was basically trading in one prison for another. Except this one would be colder and harsher.
Kang Choon-he's eyes narrowed as she wondered who would be bold enough to agree to becoming Baek Junghwa's disciple—beating her to the punch. She looked at the young man, and couldn't recognize him, but had a strange feeling like she'd met him before. There was a certain familiarity and an annoying irritation she felt when looking at him. It was the same feeling she felt when looking at Han Seo-yoon. Just thinking about him made her face scrunch in displeasure.
All eyes were on Wooyun now, including the Demon Lord himself. Amidst all the heated gazes, Wooyun ignored them all and focused only on the man in front of him.
Baek Junghwa raised an eyebrow; the smile on his face had since vanished and was replaced with an unreadable expression. "You? And who might you be exactly?"
The way he spoke stirred a strange sense of familiarity within Wooyun. He couldn't help thinking he'd made him before, but that…wasn't possible. Besides reading about him, he'd never met Baek Junghwa before.
"…Does it matter what my identity is?" He answered back, earning gasps from the crowd.
Junghwa was silent for a moment before a low chuckle escaped his lips. "I guess that's fair. If you don't want to reveal your identity in front of all these people, I can understand. But if it's for other reasons," he said as his eyes flickered in Kang Choon-hee's direction. "I would advise not to. Don't let those reasons hinder your growth. Remember, a sprouting flower cannot blossom if it keeps getting nipped in the leaves."
Wooyun's breath hitched when he heard those words. They were the same words that strange man had spoken to him the other day… No way, he thought. He's the guy…Chunho…the one he met at the market and the one who drove him to the town over.
A look of realization appeared on his face, and his gaze unconsciously moved towards Kang Choon-hee, who looked just as confused as the rest of the people there.
And so, he took a deep breath while muttering "F it" under his breath.
What was that saying again? You must be the change you want to see in your life, right?
Wooyun removed the straw hat Mr. Jang had given him, and wiped the powder that was on his face—revealing his true identity.
Kang Choon-hee's face went from confused, stunned, to angry all in a matter of seconds. Her mouth opened and closed as an angry vein appeared on the side of her temple.
"Y-You…you…Han Seo-yoon?!" she bellowed, making the sect leaders and participants nearly jump.
"So you've finally decided to show yourself." Junghwa said with an amused grin.
"What are you doing here?" She cut through him, her eyes livid. Wooyun dusted off his sleeves, unfazed by the fury radiating from Kang Choon-hee. Murmurs erupted among the sect leaders and participants, their gazes flickering between Wooyun and Choon-hee. Some recognized the name Han—the once famous merchant group in Sea City. But what was happening here? Why the hostility and why was the demon lord interested in him? They all wondered.
"You have some nerve," Choon-hee seethed, gripping her sleeves tightly. "Disguising yourself like a rat and sneaking in here. A please where you don't belong."
"Sneaking?" Wooyun scoffed. "Last I checked, this was an event anyone could enter as long as you pay for the entry fee."
"Where did you find the money—never mind that? Return home at once. You still have work waiting for you there!"
"On the contrary, this gentleman has other matters to attend to." Junghwa said.
Her gaze turned to the Demon Lord, who had a light smile on his face, but his eyes remained cold and detached, causing a shiver to run down her spine. But despite her fear, she spoke up to him. "What use do you have with Seo-yoon, Lord Baek? He isn't worth your time."
"I will be the judge of that."
Suddenly, an invisible, inexorable force seemed to push Wooyun towards the Demon Lord, and Eun-woo, who was a second too late in grabbing Wooyun, watched as the young man was now face to face with him.
Wooyun's breath hitched as an unseen force compelled him forward, his feet dragging across the stone floor. His body tensed, every nerve on high alert. It wasn't painful, nor was it forceful enough to harm—but the sheer inevitability of it, the way it allowed no room for resistance, sent a sharp prickle down his spine.
He barely had time to register Eun-woo's outstretched hand before he was standing mere inches from Baek Junghwa.