Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Handle It Neatly Yourself
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“Impressive, isn’t it, Young Cult Leader? Truly beautiful, wouldn’t you say?”
The Vampire Demon spun around in place, draped in a lavish robe of blue silk.
I had no particular desire to acknowledge this dark-skinned brute, but even so, he cut a striking figure.
The robe resembled a vibrant sea transplanted under a sunny sky, and his handsome, flamboyant features enhanced its beauty all the more.
His well-muscled upper body and long legs brought the garment fully to life.
They said fashion’s crowning glory was the face, and with perfectly matching attire to boot, he looked like he owned the whole damn world.
The Vampire Demon’s treatment had gone far more smoothly than I’d anticipated.
From what I’d heard, he’d barely consumed fresh blood all this time. What little he managed came mostly from hunting wild beasts or the impure blood pooled together by the faithful.
As a result, he couldn’t properly refine his internal energy, nor could he even activate his abilities.
Things had improved somewhat after taking refuge with the Heavenly Grace Merchant Guild, but compared to his days in the Divine Cult, he still couldn’t obtain high-quality fresh blood. Recovery was out of the question, let alone proper treatment—until he encountered Demon King Blood after six long years.
Thanks to that, the Demon King Blood proved extraordinarily effective.
Not only did the burns covering his face heal completely, but even his ruined eyes were restored.
He’d returned to his pre-injury appearance.
Restoring his channels and meridians would take more time, of course, but that was only a matter of when.
The Vampire Demon had regained his smile after so long. With his confidence restored, he was back to his sly, gigolo ways.
So I should be happy for him… then why did it grate on me so much?
“Yeah. It suits you.”
Even to my halfhearted reply, the Vampire Demon’s grin refused to fade from his ears.
“Hahaha! Isn’t our Lady Chu’s handiwork something else? So flashy, yet light and comfortable too. I must’ve found myself a fine lover!”
Well, now?
Playing the fool too?
“You shouldn’t say that. Young Master Tang is right here.”
Shangguan Chuxue burrowed into the Vampire Demon’s arms, playfully thumping his chest with her tiny fist.
Hadn’t this girl been standing akimbo and puffing on her pipe right in front of me just moments ago?
“No need to worry, Lady Chu. Our Young Cult Leader isn’t the narrow-minded sort.”
I wondered if I’d become narrow-minded starting today.
“And even if he were, so what? It’s not like our love would vanish because of it!”
“Tch. As if I’d fall for lines like that… You know, that’s a great idea!”
“Exactly! Hahaha!”
“Hohoho!”
“…….”
Ah, suddenly I craved Emperor Song of the Great Realm.
Should I just squash a territorial lord right here?
Bury them both in the Binghan Hell and be done with this sight forever.
Ah, but no?
It’s cold there—they’d only cling tighter.
I couldn’t bear that.
It was already unbearable enough; I couldn’t let them ramp up the nauseating display.
Even Emperor Song would’ve gotten fed up watching these two lovebirds and chased them back to the mortal world.
Either way, I was powerless. Damn it all.
「There’s a saying from those distant western lands.」
‘What is it?’
「The Paradise of Solitude, the Hell of Lovers!」
‘Paradise of… what?’
「Living alone brings paradise, but with a lover, it’s hell!」
「……」
「As the sages say, romance and marriage are the graves of life. People marry when judgment falters, divorce when comprehension fails, and remarry when memory fades! Those two have tossed aside their judgment like squid ink—best to keep your distance for the Divine Cult’s revival—」
I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, but one thing was clear.
Even the spirits weren’t fans.
What could I do, though?
If they were that happy, I’d just leave them be.
How much longer would I have to endure this?
I let out a light sigh.
* * *
“You’re leaving now, right?”
A moment later, Shangguan Chuxue pulled away from the Vampire Demon’s embrace and put her pipe back in her mouth.
A wry smile tugged at his lips.
“This is where I belong.”
“Yeah. Of course it is. That’s why I liked you in the first place.”
A flicker of sorrow crossed Shangguan Chuxue’s eyes, but she hid it well.
Neither the Vampire Demon nor Shangguan Chuxue could voice the words buried in their hearts.
He wanted to ask her to come with him to the Divine Cult.
She wanted to beg him to leave it all and stay by her side.
But neither would utter such things.
They knew too well it would only hurt the other—or become shackles on their hearts.
The Vampire Demon couldn’t abandon the Divine Cult.
Shangguan Chuxue couldn’t leave the merchant guild.
Neither had ever once considered such a life.
The Divine Cult and the guild were that vital to them—the entirety of their existences.
To ask them to forsake it all for one’s sake would be an insult.
And yet, they loved each other, fully aware of that fact, and accepted one another in their hearts.
That’s the kind of people they were.
“…….”
“…….”
Their gazes met briefly.
Shangguan Chuxue turned to me and spoke.
“Young Master Tang, could I ask one favor? Consider it payment for looking after this man and the faithful in my stead.”
“How could a single favor repay Guild Leader Shangguan’s grace? Name it, and it’s yours.”
“Suppose he starts eyeing someone else. Could you… chop him down for me?”
“…Lady, Lady Chu!?”
Disbelief spread across the Vampire Demon’s face.
He’d been envisioning some poignant, dramatic farewell—clearly, this was the last thing he expected.
I shook my head calmly.
“Even so, that’d be too harsh on a Guardian like Tak.”
“…Young Master Tang, you men are all the same—”
“As if that’d suffice. I was just going to pop him like a balloon.”
“Oh?”
“Then toss what’s left at the Heavenly Grace headquarters. From there, Guild Leader Shangguan could lock him in some sunless back room and turn him into a pitiful prisoner of confinement.”
“That’s a great idea! I love it. As expected, you and I get along perfectly, Young Master Tang.”
“Deal, then?”
“Done.”
I bumped fists with Shangguan Chuxue side by side.
The Sichuan merchant world’s signal for a sealed bargain.
“…Does my opinion factor in at all here?”
The Vampire Demon’s timid protest was casually ignored.
I left the Heavenly Grace Merchant Guild’s main hall with him in tow.
The faithful would be sent over gradually once I settled in at the Tang family stronghold, so there was no need to worry.
“Then, leave the rest to me.”
“Your servant will handle it neatly and thoroughly, ensuring the Young Cult Leader can move about with complete ease.”
We parted ways with the Vampire Demon at the fork leading to Xuanwu Pavilion.
He’d head to Gansu first to scout the Kongtong Mountains.
If any trace of my master truly lingered, he’d be the best one to track it down.
“Until then, please preserve your precious health.”
The Vampire Demon offered a formal clasped-hands salute, then vanished with the rising wind.
His presence faded completely.
“…….”
I stood there, staring long at the spot where he’d disappeared.
I already missed him.
And the other faithful waiting for me somewhere.
The other Five Great Sword Commanders too.
* * *
“Did you have a good meeting with Guardian Tak, my lord?”
Back at Xuanwu Pavilion, Ilno came running out barefoot, having waited outside.
Attendants were permitted one servant. Naturally, mine was Ilno.
He was beside himself with excitement. Reuniting with the Vampire Demon had been his most anticipated moment.
“Thanks to you. He was overflowing with vitality.”
“…Hahaha. That’s Guardian Tak’s charm for you.”
“True enough. Though I doubt he’ll get up to his old habits anymore.”
“Truth be told, it feels like gossiping behind his back, but a man like Guardian Tak needs someone like Guild Leader Shangguan by his side.”
“Fair point. That’s what it takes to straighten him out, right?”
“But for you, Guardian—”
“Sent him to Gansu. He insisted on going ahead to assess the situation.”
Ilno nodded gravely.
This was about finding my master.
We couldn’t move like the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
“And you? You met your brothers.”
“Yes. It had been so long—we reveled in the reunion. Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, my lord.”
Suddenly, Ilno dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground.
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
“I’ve always wanted to thank you properly like this, my lord.”
I tried to pull him up, but Ilno wouldn’t budge. His speech had shifted to that of a Divine Cult follower meeting their liege.
“You saved my brothers and led us here, allowing us to kindle the flame of hope in our hearts at last.”
“…….”
“It’s not just us. Our brothers’ brothers, their friends, their families… all are eternally grateful for your grace.”
“…….”
“Please, always remain in that position to guide us on the righteous path. Never leave us again.”
“…….”
“I beseech you.”
“…….”
I gazed down at Ilno for a long moment, then knelt on one knee and bowed my waist.
“Rise, Ilno.”
“…….”
“You call me lord and serve me as sovereign—do you intend to keep me groveling in the dirt?”
Only then did Ilno lift his head.
His face was a sight.
This middle-aged man, tears streaming endlessly.
Snot and tears mixed with dust smeared across his features.
“There’s still so much more I have to give you and your brothers. If you’re this moved already, how will you handle what’s to come?”
“With the grace you’ve shown so far—”
“I exist because of you all. Your faith gathers, allowing me to stand here, to run, to aspire to fly. So do not say my gifts suffice. I’ve yet to repay even a thousandth of the grace you’ve given me.”
“My… lord.”
I chuckled and pulled a gift from my robes.
I’d planned to give it later, but better now, when he could share it with his brothers.
They were descendants of the fallen Kunlun Sect. Outer family or not, with the main sect gone, there was no rule barring a branch from becoming the new orthodoxy.
“Th-this is!”
Ilno’s eyes widened at the manuals in my hand.
The Great Dragon Claw Technique and Thunderbolt Earth Dragon Sword.
Variant ultimate arts left behind by the Nostalgic Sword Emperor of old Kunlun.
“As your sovereign, I bestow upon you and your brothers your first special command.”
Ilno’s pupils still trembled in my view.
“Restore the severed lineage of Kunlun. Make it the sword of our main sect.”