Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Little Heavenly Demon, Peach Blossom Paradise (1)
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"Have you made your preparations to leave yet?"
In the early dawn, as I climbed the mountain like always, the old man spoke up before I could even say a word.
"Yes."
Probably tomorrow—or it could be as soon as right now—the assault would begin.
"Time sure flies disgustingly fast. Just to kill one young punk, and they're that bloodthirsty about it."
Now that the enemy had shown their hand, there wasn't much left for us to do.
They were closing in systematically, and with our disadvantageous position, it was only natural we'd lose.
Any chance of victory in a fight?
Not a shred.
From what the old man said, there was one eccentric with enough skill to tangle with the Heavenly Demon.
'No way to win, so I'll buy time by dying.'
Their goal was me anyway.
Once I'm dead, this mess ends. So I'll rampage like a madman until my strength runs out, then play dead.
With that, I return to the modern world. No dramatic goodbyes—just become a dead man.
"But isn't this a total rip-off in terms of cost-benefit?"
"What?"
"Dying just to delay the sect's destruction. Not even stopping it outright."
"You're not actually dying, are you?"
"......"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You've been struck right in the vitals, haven't you? 'Shut up.'
The World Tree of Time, popping up sporadically to chat with me.
After more than two months together, we no longer held back our barbs.
"You think you're making some grand sacrifice right now."
The old man sneered mockingly at my grand endeavor.
"From the start, I planned to accept my end. You lot were the ones who decided to delay it."
"Don't just think of yourself. The kids are too young to lose their father."
"Kuhahaha, is that something you should say? You still don't know who I am."
The old man emphasized each word with force.
"King of Spirit Wood, Heavenly Demon. You've inherited the worst of the worst villains."
I knew that.
No matter where or how I aimed, I'd end up a bad guy.
I'd accepted it long ago.
"Too young to lose their dad? It's laughable hearing that from the root of all evil. Pathetic. Pointless."
The old man sat on the rock, back turned to me.
The World Tree of Time glanced at him and chimed in.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ He's not being honest. Admit it, yeah, I admit.
'He does have a bit of that side to him.'
Tsundere, maybe?
He hurls every insult imaginable, but looks after you behind the scenes. Acts disinterested when you mention his daughter, but listens intently.
Two months together gave me a good read on the old man.
Despite the verbal abuse, deep down he was grateful.
"......So, what do you want me to do?"
"Wait here until the enemy arrives."
Standby mode, huh.
Time would drag, but no choice.
The moment movement was detected, I'd have to offer up my neck.
"Guess I won't get to see the kids anymore."
"I'll tell them. Even Hong-yeon."
Hong-yeon.
Hearing that name brought a smirk to my lips.
She was one of the people I wouldn't see when I returned.
Unlike Cheon-do. He'd still be alive back home.
But no proper farewell with Hong-yeon.
'Tried not to get attached on purpose.'
Can't completely ignore someone if you're human.
Going for a goodbye would just leave loose ends—can't risk that.
Hell, even if she knew, it'd be a problem.
If I dropped ominous hints about dying, what then?
We're not sucking faces or anything.
Better to just drop off cleanly.
'Cheon-do... ah, whatever.'
I knew from experience.
The kid who thinks he'll see you tomorrow ends up dead.
I could joke about it now, but back then it wasn't funny.
Cheon-do would go through the same gut-wrenching ordeal.
Still, I trusted him.
My master—he'd overcome it on his own.
Couldn't help the heartache, though.
"Got it. I'll stay put here from now on. Please explain everything nicely to the kids who know me."
At my response, the old man stood and headed down the mountain.
His back looked more deflated than usual, leaving an impression.
Even in decline, he was the Heavenly Demon.
Unable to shake off his pursuers himself might be the first time he felt powerless in his life.
His sky-piercing aura was a thing of the past.
Maybe I was just a fleeting face in someone's autobiography, right at the end.
I settled on the rock where the old man had sat and started killing time properly.
The rising sun was stunning.
'It's really ending.'
Finally, back to the present.
Not excited, but it awaited me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You can't live only in the past forever. 'I see it differently. There's a future too, right? Just a different timeline I'm living in?'
Fatalism. Hated the word.
It mocks everyone's actions.
You bust your ass and succeed? "Fated anyway."
Act wisely but fail? "Doomed from the start."
Shit advice for winners and losers alike.
But having come to the past myself, I had to believe fate existed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ It's a bit different. My ability is just unique. Time flows in a straight line, without a doubt. 'You know your words are the biggest bundle of contradictions, right?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ It's obvious your actions can change the future. But you can't change the present. It's already concluded. 'Every time you say that, I wanna ask... can it influence things or not?'
At first, she said no changes possible.
Do whatever, present can't be altered.
But living here, I saw my actions linking to the present.
My identity, my home. Maybe even my master's kindness stemmed from that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ It's already happened.... That's all I can say right now. 'Complicated.'
Cheon-do, Baek-do, Hwang-do—truly baffling.
Assuming my actions could influence...
If the home and status I had here were my own preparations, then yes, actions affect the present.
'Then my master should remember me.'
Absolutely not.
None of them acted like they knew me.
'Some memory loss or something. Yeah, that tracks.'
Sitting still, I reflected on the past.
Good thing time was plentiful. Plenty of room to sort thoughts.
-No. The present won't change.
Can't change the present, she said.
Complicated to explain, per the World Tree of Time herself.
'And before that, you said...'
-My authority can interfere with the past. But faintly.... Only traces remain. Like how I begged for mercy without basis.
Can't change present, but can interfere.
Contradiction like a beggar's rags.
'No matter how I turn it, sounds like it can influence. Right?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] Can't say now.
The World Tree of Time stuck to that attitude.
So I concluded inwardly.
'Means we're doomed anyway. Peach Blossom Paradise too. Heavenly Demon dies.'
Efforts down the drain? Depressing.
But zooming out, not really.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ None of your actions were unnecessary. Too tangled to parse causality properly.
Honestly, I thought my efforts developed Peach Blossom Paradise, opening the Heavenly Demon's heart.
Even if irrelevant, I worked diligently in a doomed place.
'Overthinking it, though.'
World Tree of Time was right.
Impromptu actions at the time—no regrets.
'Ultimately, I came here to die?'
To extend Peach Blossom Paradise and Heavenly Demon's lifespan.
Started as a request, but snowballed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That's not all... I'll explain later. 'Do that.'
Time would tell.
Gains here overflowed.
Not just how Peach Blossom Paradise fell, but how the World Tree's subordinates moved, who opposed the Heavenly Demon.
Skill gains went without saying.
Even if I regressed, I'd reconnect with the World Tree of Time.
I stretched my arms high and yawned.
"Euuugh!"
Crack from my back.
Making the sound felt so much better.
"Time to go!"
I bellowed refreshingly toward the cliff below.
All that remained: prove my training to the enemy.
And wait here until the time came.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Slipping on her crimson undergarments, Hong-yeon dressed herself up.
The beauty in the mirror.
Flawless porcelain skin, no scars.
Her hands bore no scars, but long hours with quill pens had callused her fingers—ugly to her eyes.
Others called it a jade flaw.
Plump breasts. Taut muscles from years of training.
But lately, desk work had packed on pounds.
"......Too fat after all?"
Staring at her overly thickened thighs, Hong-yeon grumbled.
Her wrinkle-free face scrunched cutely.
-Creak!
The door opened then.
"Eek, you scared me... Ahem. Who is it?"
"Hong-yeon unnie?"
In walked Hwang-do, with her vermilion hair.
The girl, mature beyond her years, gaped at Hong-yeon.
"Dressing up? Oh my oh my."
Uncharacteristic primping.
Hong-yeon quickly shoved her makeup into a drawer.
"...What? Why? Can't I dress up?"
Natural complaint. Kids didn't get her struggles.
Just past twenty, but time to worry about wrinkles now.
"Unnie sounded just like an old fogey there."
"Old fogey? Oh... you mean Little Heavenly Demon."
Hearing it so much had rubbed off on her.
It slipped out when scolding subordinates.
"So, why'd you come?"
"Was gonna ask for a bit more allowance~ But now I'm more curious why Hong-yeon unnie's dolling up."
Short on allowance?
Hwang-do wasn't a spendthrift. Baek-do must've put her up to it.
-Bring it, and I'll do your chores.
-For real? Totally.
-Yup yup.
Then play dumb later. Hong-yeon pictured Baek-do's antics.
She sighed.
"Does primping need a reason?"
"Not reallyyy~ But you put extra oomph today!"
Hwang-do grinned slyly as she approached.
Her precociously ample chest jiggled with each step.
Frightening potential.
"No way. Unnie has a crush?"
"A crush?"
A frivolous man's face flashed in her mind.
Hong-yeon sobered and shook her head.
"Nothing like that. Just wanna look good."
"......Another Cheon-do type."
Hwang-do stuck out her tongue, fed up.
Hong-yeon stared blankly, then changed fully.
"Red undies are sexy on you, unnie. Might get compliments tonight."
"Shut it! Take your allowance and go. Heavenly Demon summons—I must attend."
"Yeees~"
Bratty kid.
Hong-yeon eyed Hwang-do, then sighed deeply.
No one to compliment anyway—what nonsense.
Pouting, she reached the Heavenly Demon's room.
-Knock knock.
She stood before the door, knocked politely, and knelt.
Mandatory for beholding the Heavenly Demon's face.
-Who is it.
"...Vice Leader Hong-yeon."
-Enter.
-Slide— The door opened.
Hong-yeon kept her head bowed low.
Normally he'd tell her to look up, but no word came.
Long silence filled the room.
"Raise your head."
Finally spoken, Hong-yeon lifted her face, sensing something off.
The Heavenly Demon—her adoptive father—looked haggard.
"Heavenly Demon?"
"I have words for you today. Close the door and come in. Unless you want to die."
That appended curse suggested it wasn't dire.
Still, the atmosphere was off.
-Click.
Door shut, she knelt in the center.
"You know of Peach Blossom Paradise?"
"Anyone would—Little Heavenly Demon, right? Yes. We worked together often."
"Yeah, the guy you opposed tooth and nail. Meant to tell you after, but as a real power here, you need to know."
Thinking back shamed her.
Expanding with Little Heavenly Demon was risky then... but now a blessing, thriving.
Everyone respected him.
"What do you think?"
Of course.
Hong-yeon didn't hesitate.
"Outstanding talent. Probably one of a kind in a lifetime."
She'd opposed such talent.
Even with reasons, fault lay with her.
She hadn't trusted the Heavenly Demon.
Death sentence normally.
Only here as his foster daughter—she knew it wasn't easily forgiven.
"I see."
Dark expression in his voice.
"......Looks like my daughter picked a fine disciple."
Bitter yet satisfied tone.
Hong-yeon blinked, uncomprehending.
"Hong-yeon."
"Yes."
'But about that man—what could it be?'
Hong-yeon bowed deeply, curiosity bubbling.
Peach Blossom Paradise.
She thought of him occasionally.
'If I'd accepted him from the start.'
Maybe closer now.
Impossible at this point.
She chuckled inwardly, awaiting the Heavenly Demon's words.
At last, the old man spoke.
"He dies in a few days."
Thunderbolt from clear sky.