Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Shocking Turn of Events (2)
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“I will now examine you, if I may. Please forgive the intrusion.”
“Ah…”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“Uh…”
“I humbly await your words, Young Master.”
“Well, it’s just…”
“…”
“…Just do what you were doing.”
“Yes, then.”
The man gently took Cheon Hajin’s pulse, who was lying down as docilely as a well-behaved child.
*Flinch!*
‘Cold.’
His fingers were as cold as ice, as if he’d sold off his body heat somewhere. The chill pierced through the calluses on my hand, sending shivers down my spine.
Damn it, a corpse would feel warmer than this.
The man closed his eyes.
*Wooooong.*
A faint energy rose with a strange, resonant hum.
Cheon Hajin's pupils trembled as if in an earthquake.
A sinister energy poured in through his pulse point.
‘It’s real demonic energy!’
Demonic energy.
And not the corrupted kind that comes from practicing some crude martial art.
This was true demonic energy, the kind that could only be manifested by mastering a so-called orthodox demonic art, one drawn from a perfectly established discipline.
His mind snapped into focus.
‘D-Damn it! Then this place really is… *Urp!*’
A sudden wave of nausea washed over him. He wanted to retch, even though he hadn't eaten anything.
I've always wondered, don't you people feel clammy? Doesn't holding this disgusting energy inside you make you depressed or want to puke?
The man spoke, his eyes still closed.
“Your acupoints are damaged, but your twisted meridians have somewhat settled. Fortunately, you have passed the critical stage.”
I know.
“Your muscles have atrophied significantly, but your vital energy has returned and your life force has stabilized. That is why you can move without difficulty.”
I know, you bastard.
“The disappearance of your dantian is a mystery… but it may be a blessing in disguise. A dantian that only produces turbid energy is worse than having none at all.”
I get it, so please just get this disgusting demonic energy away from me!
The man removed his hand from his pulse point. Only then did Cheon Hajin let out a long sigh, as if he could finally breathe.
Afterward, the man and the physician spoke in low voices, discussing how to proceed with his treatment.
Cheon Hajin’s eyes darted back and forth.
‘Damn it! Shit!’
His body's recovery was a foregone conclusion. He was quite knowledgeable in medicine, and the healing techniques of the Unhindered Arts were nothing short of miraculous.
The real problem was that this place was the Demonic Cult.
‘Aaargh! This is driving me insane, seriously!!’
The Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
The Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, often called the thousand-year-old Demonic Cult, was the oldest and most wicked demonic power born from millennia of martial history.
In terms of sheer military might, it was unrivaled, a symbol of chaos whose very existence kept the entire martial world on edge.
Although the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Iron Blood Fortress, both coalitions, were overwhelmingly larger in number, the martial world referred to the three as the Three Great Powers.
The very fact that a single military group stood shoulder to shoulder with alliances spoke volumes about the danger posed by the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
While the prestigious Seven Demonic Houses existed, they were essentially branches of the Divine Cult.
The Demonic Cult and the Seven Houses.
To those living in the martial world, they were the most wicked band of fiends in history, treated as no different from a plague.
In short…
‘I have to get out of here!’
A fish must live in water. The moment it comes onto land, it's bound to die, regardless of the species.
Even being a scion of one of the Seven Houses would have been a disaster, but I'm a Young Master of the Demonic Cult. I thought I was in deep shit, but this is a whole other level.
Whatever the case, escape was the only answer. This was no time to worry about status or any of that crap.
If I don't run, I die!
“Your rate of recovery is remarkably fast.
However, I believe it is still a time for you to rest.
We will administer tonics and acupuncture in the mornings and evenings, so it would be best for you to remain in bed for the time being.”
The man's voice was blunt and clipped. It felt like stones tumbling out, a rather grating tone and manner of speech.
For the patient's peace of mind, you should just keep your mouth shut.
“Physician Jang.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“From now on, serve him the Complete Health Tonic. Use Brocade Crystal Needles for the acupuncture. And switch his meals to a normal diet.”
“I-Is that alright?”
“…”
“I understand.”
The man called Lord bowed his head to Cheon Hajin.
“I will visit you every two days. Until then, please take care of your esteemed self.”
With those words, the man left the room.
The maid stood to one side, trembling, while Physician Jang cleared his throat and took Cheon Hajin's pulse.
Cheon Hajin turned his head away from them. He was in no state to pay them any mind.
‘This is dangerous. Really dangerous.’
Now that he knew this was the Demonic Cult, he had to abandon any thought of leaving after a casual recovery.
If possible, he had to leave right now. No, even if it was impossible, he had to make it possible.
The eyes of the former number one assassin in the world, burning fiercely with a firm sense of purpose, were…
…incredibly anxious.
‘First, let's just get out!’
* * *
Honestly, it was a realistically impossible dream.
He knew this was the Demonic Cult, and he knew this body held a very high status.
So what? Whether he snuck out or walked out openly, he needed the skill and justification to do so.
His skills were undoubtedly top-tier in the martial world, but that was in the past. Justification? He had even less of that.
Would they be crazy enough to let a patient with a ravaged body out of the cult's grounds?
In other words, there was absolutely no way for Cheon Hajin to escape this place.
How can I get out of here? Is there any way to escape without being seen?
After much deliberation, Cheon Hajin decided to test the waters first.
And despaired.
“Your life force has grown much stronger compared to two days ago. This is truly encouraging progress.
This is because life force is similar to the accumulation of internal energy; the more momentum it gains, the faster it builds.”
“…”
“It will take time for your internal injuries to heal, but I believe your body will enter a stable period in just five more days. Therefore…”
“…”
“…I earnestly! beseech you to focus on recuperating in your quarters.”
“…Thank you for the advice.”
“My apologies.”
Apologies, my ass. Is that something the guy who grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and threw me onto the bed should be saying?
Cheon Hajin ground his teeth.
He had expected to be caught. Still, he'd gone ahead with it to gain at least some minimal information about the surrounding terrain.
He had to know where the openings were and where the paths led before he could even take the first step.
When it came to surveying the terrain, he was confident he wouldn't lose to anyone.
The King of Slaughter, himself, was a man capable of drawing a map in his head after surveying just one path, just one corner.
But he couldn't even do that.
The moment the maid stepped away, he had furtively opened the door and was about to step into the front yard,
the man appeared with timing so impeccable it was almost unbelievable.
The result… was as you see.
“May I take your pulse one more time?”
As if you wouldn't if I said no… Ah, cold!
Cheon Hajin grumbled inwardly.
‘You should've just done it without asking.’
Cold bastard. Incredibly rude bastard.
A moment later, the man opened his eyes.
His expression was as stiff as ever, but his eyes held an unconcealable surprise.
“In that short time, your damaged acupoints have recovered even further.”
“…”
“It's not just the acupoints. Your internal injuries are improving rapidly overall.
Even with the help of medicinal herbs and acupuncture, this is truly an astonishing recovery rate.”
The man paused and looked at Cheon Hajin with a peculiar gaze.
What's with that look?
When Cheon Hajin openly frowned, the man seemed to realize his mistake and lowered his head.
“Please forgive my rudeness. It seems I was somewhat taken aback by your outstanding recovery ability. I hope you understand.”
“…”
“I believe acupuncture is no longer necessary. Instead, we will supplement your recovery with nutritious meals and the Complete Health Tonic.”
“I see. Ah! But I have a question.”
“Please, ask.”
“What is this Complete Health Tonic? I've never heard of it.”
He was a man who had been forced to learn medicine for the sake of survival.
He wasn't skilled enough to be called a renowned physician, and was in fact more versed in the art of poison, but his skills could still put most ordinary doctors to shame.
Yet, in his memory, there was no tonic called Complete Health Tonic. Well, medicines could be named anything, but…
The man immediately bowed his head.
‘Hm?’
Cheon Hajin's eyes glinted.
Was it because he had only seen his stiff demeanor until now? It felt as though the man was slightly flustered.
“The Complete Health Tonic is a restorative brew that excels at reviving one's vital energy. It is a medicine developed in-house, served only to the highest echelons of our cult.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Cheon Hajin found himself tilting his head in confusion.
‘Excels at reviving vital energy?’
Whether restorative or not, medicine was medicine. If he had felt its medicinal properties, he would have drawn upon that power to speed up his recovery.
‘…Well, it could just be a problem with my senses.’
Not just his five senses, but even his sense for energy was extremely dull. It was something he could have missed if he wasn't paying attention.
Yes, that was possible, but still.
“I will return in two days. I wish you a swift recovery.”
The man disappeared with quick steps.
After some time had passed, the maid spoke up in an awkward voice.
“Young Master, the wind is chilly. Shall I close the wind…”
“Girl.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“What is my name?”
“W-What do you mean…”
“What's my name and what's my status? Recite my personal details.”
The maid inwardly tilted her head in confusion. *Why is he suddenly asking that?*
Just then, Cheon Hajin turned his head toward the maid.
‘…!’
The maid's face turned pale.
There, she saw a serious expression she had never seen in the past ten days.
His unwavering eyes and mask-like expression gave off a colorless, transparent coldness.
It was an atmosphere that permitted no questions.
“The Young Master is…”
“That's right, that's right. Tell me.”
With her head bowed low, simple information about this body flowed from the maid's lips.
His name is Seo Ryang. He is twenty-three years old, the third of the Cult Leader's seven disciples.
As a disciple personally taken in by the Cult Leader, his martial talent was outstanding and his senses were exceptional.
Before his body fell into this state, he was a powerhouse who vied for the top spot among the disciples.
He was considered one of the disciples closest to the position of the next Cult Leader,
but he suffered from cultivation deviation, lost all his martial arts, and remained unconscious for half a year.
‘The Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult?’
Among the Three Great Powers of the martial world, information about the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon was particularly scarce.
Information about the candidates, in particular, was kept especially secret.
Unlike the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Iron Blood Fortress, the Divine Cult chose to thoroughly conceal its candidates.
The fear born from the unknown. That was an extension of the Divine Cult's politics of terror.
“My personality?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked what my personality was like.”
He had more or less deduced that he was a disciple of the Cult Leader. How many people in the Demonic Cult would be called 'Young Master'?
But what he was really curious about was this Seo Ryang fellow's reputation.
He needed to know what kind of person he was and what he had done in the past to react naturally to any unforeseen situations.
“Well…”
The maid hesitated.
Cheon Hajin coaxed her with gentle words.
“I know. I understand completely. It's hard to say such things in front of the person himself.”
“…Yeees.”
“But still. I want to hear it honestly, without omission. I've been a bit confused since my body ended up like this.
It seems like a lot of my memories are gone, too.”
“Ah! I-I see.”
“Yes. So tell me. In detail and with certainty.”
“B-But still…”
“If you really don't want to say it, I can't force you. It's not like I'm in a position to give orders…”
In that instant, the maid snapped to attention.
“As you command! You were infamous within the cult for your ruthless and cruel nature, a figure of terror!
You were particularly sensitive about how tasks were handled and never overlooked even the slightest mistake! Many were crippled or killed because of it!”
“H-Huh?”
“You were someone who would commit any evil act without hesitation if necessary and would stop at nothing to achieve your goals!
Butcher! Vicious monster! Son of a bitch! These are the epithets used implicitly within the cult to refer to you, Young Master!”
The maid panted, catching her breath.
Cheon Hajin blinked.
Butcher? Vicious monster? Son of a bitch?
“…Is that for real?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if it's for real.”
“*Hic!*”
The maid's face immediately turned pale.
She had automatically reacted to the word 'order' and recited everything, but upon reflection, she realized those were things one should never say to a person's face.
A look of dejection crossed Cheon Hajin's face.
“So I was basically the scum of the earth?”
“N-No, that's not what I meant…”
“Don't deny it.”
“Please, kill me!”
The maid prostrated herself on the floor.
Cheon Hajin sighed. He hadn't expected someone like the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult to have a pristine character, but wasn't this a bit much?
Crippling or killing people if things went wrong? Is he a real butcher or what?
‘No. It's not like I'm going to live here anyway.’
Still, he couldn't shake the unpleasant feeling.
Looking down at the maid with a complicated expression, Cheon Hajin spoke abruptly.
“But why are you still on the floor?”
“Please, kill me!”
“Why do you ask to be killed at every opportunity? Get up, you.”
“…Pardon?”
“Agh! So frustrating!”
As Cheon Hajin forced her up, the maid shot to her feet in surprise.
“Girl.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Get ready to go out.”
“Pardon?”
Cheon Hajin's eyes twinkled.
The maid shivered at the light in his eyes, which had grown a layer deeper than before.
‘So, he wasn't the timid type, was he?’
If that's the case?
‘Since he was a savage brute anyway, moving a little more boldly probably won't arouse suspicion.’
They wouldn't dare scold someone like the Third Young Master just for going out for a little stroll, would they?