Chronicles of the Reincarnated Demon God

Chapter 7: Easy Prey

“Quite heavy, isn’t it? Were you planning to go for a drink somewhere after this?”

“When did you…?”

Tang Gon’s face showed utter disbelief.

Well, that’s understandable.

Not only did I demonstrate the footwork technique that usually takes others at least three months to learn with remarkable talent, but I also showed enough proficiency to pickpocket a master’s money pouch.

Of course, no matter how much of a genius I might be, it would be impossible to master the Traceless Shadow Steps in such a short time.

In truth, this was a con involving some sleight of hand.

「Young Lord! I followed your instructions, so please show mercy-」

‘Alright. I’ll consider it.’

「Thank you! I desire nothing but reincarnation, so please command me as you wish!」

I only approached Tang Gon using the Traceless Shadow Steps. It was the wraith that took the money pouch. I had secretly planted one of them in the pouch beforehand.

Although I’m still limited in physical exertion since my Lower Dantian hasn’t matured yet, this much was child’s play.

But Tang Gon, who had no way of knowing this, looked confused.

“Perhaps you had already learned the Traceless Shadow Steps-”

“How could I have learned it beforehand when I’m not even allowed access to the martial arts repository?”

“Then how is this possible-”

“I guess I’m just more of a genius than the Fierce Wind Warrior.”

I took out exactly thirty pieces from the money pouch and returned the rest.

Thud!

Tang Gon couldn’t even think to catch it. The money pouch that fell to the ground felt much lighter.

“Instructor, don’t you have anything else? This is too boring.”

Tang Gon’s face contorted.

Meanwhile, I smiled.

Grin!

What a great catch.

* * *

Two hours later.

“This… can’t be…”

Tang Gon lay sprawled on the ground, completely drained.

Why, you ask?

Because he just lost every last bit of his fortune.

Tang Gon was truly a goose that laid golden eggs. Every time I squeezed him, he’d readily hand it over.

‘Just one more round! Let’s do just one more round, Young Master!’

‘No money, you say? Bah! Money is easy to come by! Wait here for a moment! I’ll withdraw some right away from the bank!’

‘Huhuhuh! Look at that! Even if you’re talented, while you might manage the Soul-Chasing Flying Steps, the Mad Wind Divine Technique would be much harder!’

‘What? One more round, you say? Hahaha! Listen, Young Master. The Mad Wind Divine Technique is the pride of our Mad Wind Squad. How could… Ah, tsk! Fine! Let’s do it!’

‘…Huh? This isn’t right? How could you perform the Mad Wind Twelve Cyclone-‘

‘Ah, nooooo!’

‘Please, please, not this money…! Have mercy! Forgive me! Pleeeease!’

By strategically thrown a few matches, allowing him to taste victory, which only made him wager more. In the end, Tang Gon was stripped bare of every last coin.

In the end, Tang Gon coughed up most of the techniques he possessed.

Including all the secret techniques of the old Mad Wind Squad on which the Nine Dragons Branch prided itself.

But this was natural if you think about it.

Even though I had never learned martial arts in my previous life, that didn’t mean I lacked insight.

That was because I was surrounded by experts.

Especially since Master often demonstrated his swordsmanship to me personally.

As a result, my insight had reached its peak. I could instantly grasp the principles of most martial arts.

Moreover, after consistently training in the Poison Dragon Heart Technique and the Raging Tiger Twelve Strikes for the past two months, I had clearly figured out how to handle this body.

By adjusting even the slightest nuances, I could absorb martial arts techniques like a sponge.

Of course, while I had only grasped them, I couldn’t use them in actual combat yet due to lack of depth.

Now then, the mood has ripened…

Should I throw out the final bait?

“It feels a bit unsatisfying to end the betting like this.”

“…I have nothing left to offer.”

Looking at the dark circles under his eyes, he resembled a walking corpse.

“But there’s still one thing left, isn’t there?”

“One thing…?”

“The Mad Wind Dance (狂風舞).”

“!!”

Thud!

I placed down the money pouch that had become too heavy to hold and smiled.

“I’ll bet all of this. What do you say?”

“…But the Mad Wind Dance is…”

Tang Gon fidgeted but couldn’t continue his words easily.

That’s probably natural.

After all, the Mad Wind Dance was the very identity of the old Mad Wind Squad.

In Sichuan’s martial world, the Mad Wind Squad was legendary.

They were the military unit that broke the long-standing power of their rivals, the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect, and blunted the spearhead of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult when they tried to step into the Central Plains.

Thanks to them, the Sichuan Tang Clan was able to establish itself as one of the most powerful forces not only in Sichuan Province but also in the western region of the Central Plains.

The Mad Wind Dance was the ultimate technique that only Mad Wind Squad members could learn.

They say that once activated, it raises fierce winds in all directions, tearing everything apart.

If poison is mixed in, the surroundings become a death zone, and if hidden weapons are added, it results in complete annihilation.

Naturally, the Sichuan Tang Clan kept the Mad Wind Dance under strict security, making it one of the few techniques that couldn’t be found even in the Demonic Sky Repository.

I intended to get my hands on this.

“I know. It can’t be taught without the Tang Clan Leader’s permission.”

“But-”

“However, there’s an exception, isn’t there? For the descendants of the Mad Wind Squad Leader.”

“!!”

“Even if I’m treated like an abandoned child, I’m still the son of the Branch Leader, right? I’m more than qualified.”

“……”

Tang Gon bit his lip hard.

Because there wasn’t a single wrong word in what I said.

Then his eyes sank deeply.

The easy prey who was easily manipulated disappeared, and suddenly the core member of the old Mad Wind Squad emerged, brimming in spirit.

Whoosh-

My skin tingles.

I had to admit it was impressive. I was a bit surprised too.

I had only seen his listless, languid appearance until now.

To think he was hiding such true colors.

“The Mad Wind Dance is no different from our lives. Even if you are the Young Master, I cannot accept treating it as mere betting stakes.”

Look at him, standing on his pride.

But there’s something he doesn’t know.

That I’m quite skilled at running my mouth.

“Do you really think I’m treating this as mere betting stakes?”

“Aren’t you?”

“No.”

“What-”

“How frustrating, really. Do all these bets I’ve been making look like just simple gambling to you?”

“?”

For the first time, a question arose on Tang Gon’s face.

I pretended to be frustrated, beating my chest while complaining.

“I’m trying to convince you. To show how much talent I have.”

“!”

“If I had asked to learn the Mad Wind Dance from the start, would you have taught me? I think you would have just laughed it off.”

“!!”

“If I hadn’t provoked you like this, I wouldn’t have had even a chance. So forget about all the previous bets, and just look at me, Tang Un-hwi, properly.”

I now looked straight into Tang Gon’s agitated gaze and delivered the final blow.

“Do I look unworthy of inheriting the legacy of the Mad Wind Squad?”

“!!!”

Now, he wasn’t just simply releasing Qi; he was emanating intense pressure.

「As always-」

「The Young Lord surely has the devil’s tongue. There were quite a few believers who ruined their lives getting caught up in that. Indeed, what a devilish tongue-」

‘Want to die?’

「My, my apologies!」

「I-I’ll correct myself!」

Regardless of what the wraiths were saying, I just silently stared at Tang Gon.

Probably right now, various thoughts were chaotically tangling inside his mind.

From the words stirring up memories to seeing the potential of a clan head in this young master who had barely been acknowledged before. He must be very confused.

The reason Tang Gon hadn’t gotten involved in the succession struggle wasn’t because he lacked interest.

It was because there wasn’t anyone worth supporting.

Considering his unwavering loyalty to Tang Ho-san, if I could satisfy that aspect appropriately, he would be completely won over.

The most important thing when hooking an easy prey isn’t provocation. That doesn’t last long. It can even create resistance later.

But if you captivate both their heart and mind, they’ll offer not just the money in their pockets but even their house deed. Tang Gon was exactly in that state.

Moreover, drawing Tang Gon to my side wasn’t just about obtaining the Mad Wind Dance.

Besides the Dark Venerable’s visit, how much would Namgung Sanyeong try to extend her evil claws to me?

If that’s the case, I needed an umbrella too.

An umbrella that could protect me, at least within the Nine Dragons Branch.

Tang Gon was just the beginning.

Starting with him, I was planning to gradually extend my influence over the entire old Mad Wind Squad.

Namgung Sanyeong and Tang Yu-chang must be rejoicing right now, thinking their scheme is brilliant.

But they’ll soon find out.

That the trap they set will soon strangle their own necks.

“……”

After remaining silent for a moment, Tang Gon soon let out a sigh.

“…I had heard that the Second Young Master had changed recently, but this isn’t just change—it’s like you’re a completely different person.”

Sometimes, empty praise can convey more than a hundred words.

“Have you been hiding your true self from the world all this time?”

“Well… ”

“You were hiding because of the Madam’s eyes on you, and now you’re revealing your true nature because the Dark Venerable is coming to visit—is that what you’re thinking?”

After I laid down some appropriate groundwork, Tang Gon was now creating a conclusion on his own.

“Very well. I’ll show you the Mad Wind Dance. Since I’ve already shown it to the First Young Lady and Third Young Master anyway, there shouldn’t be any problem showing it to you.”

Tsssss-

The Qi emanating from Tang Gon began to mix with the air, creating a small whirlwind.

“However, even those two talented siblings didn’t dare attempt to learn the Mad Wind Dance. Don’t think about recklessly learning it.”

Tang Gon now assumed a formal stance, showing respect.

His eyes, full of respect, were brimming with goodwill toward me.

“Then shall we change the betting terms a bit?”

“The terms…?”

Tang Gon was flustered by the mention of a bet at this heightened moment, but…

“You said it would be hard to learn at once. Actually, I think it would be difficult for me to master the Mad Wind Dance too… If I can learn it within today, you buy me a drink. If I fail, I’ll buy you one. How about that?”

“A drink, you say. Very well!”

Soon a smile spread across his face.

And then.

Kwararrrrung!

The Mad Wind filled the training area.

* * *

‘No matter how much of a genius the Young Master is, this should be difficult.’

Tang Gon was thoroughly enjoying this moment.

When he was first sent out on the Madam’s orders at the Quiet Wind Pavilion, he had only thought to pass time appropriately.

‘Want to bet?’

‘Scared?’

The teaching that began with light provocation was now becoming enjoyable.

‘Do I look unworthy of inheriting the legacy of the Mad Wind Squad?’

That statement, in particular, struck Tang Gon deeply.

‘The legacy of the Mad Wind Squad… Since disbanding the Mad Wind Squad, when have we had time to think about such things?’

The Squad Leader seemed to have become a completely different person after establishing the Nine Dragons Branch.

In the past, he was always burning with passion and ambition, inspiring those around him.

Now, he was just a slumbering lion silently doing his given tasks.

Since he seemed to lack any particular motivation, quite a few squad members had left the Squad Leader’s side over the past twenty years, and now only a few close aides like himself remained.

But in Tang Un-hwi’s words as he spoke of inheriting the Mad Wind Squad’s legacy, he saw the shadow of the old Squad Leader for the first time.

‘I just hope this isn’t just empty words meant to sound good.’

If someone were to ask if his heart was leaning toward Un-hwi in the succession struggle where he had never supported anyone until now, he would say that he would never choose anyone.

Because it was a promise among the old members not to support anyone until the Squad Leader showed his intention.

But if someone were to ask if he had found a good drinking companion, he felt he could answer with a definite smile.

That it certainly seemed so.

…However, shortly after.

“I lost again! I lost again! Fuck!”

Tang Gon chewed on his handkerchief while cursing his misjudgment.