Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: You've Been Hooked
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Cheongun was honestly thrilled.
Hong So-yeon was a demonic cultivator.
A precious demonic cultivator who had cultivated demonic arts.
Demonic arts were exactly that—perverse and bizarre martial techniques.
They offered faster achievements than any orthodox art, but came with a swarm of side effects... like steroids in the bodybuilding world?
It wasn't just a matter of a quirky personality.
Damaged dantian, shattered psyche, drastically shortened lifespan.
In severe cases, parts of the body could even melt away.
The side effects varied wildly depending on the demonic art cultivated.
The very willingness to risk such dangers meant they were already half-mad for martial arts, and with a bunch of lunatics gathered at the peak, the Demonic Cult earned its reputation as a power-worshipping cult of madmen.
But they weren't that numerous.
Cultivating demonic arts was taboo in the martial realm.
In fact, that's why Cheongun had high hopes.
Not only had he encountered such a rare demonic cultivator, but he'd even captured her alive with all limbs intact.
For Cheongun, whose martial prowess rose just from being near demonic cultivators, this was a true stroke of fortune.
Think about it.
If his trait activated just from proximity, with no time limit, couldn't he just tie her up and drag her around for constant trait activation?
He'd call it his pet demonic cultivator!
Sure, there'd be some controversy over his morals.
But fretting over reputation in the martial realm was the height of foolishness.
It was a quintessentially Cheongun judgment.
However.
"...It's not working?"
Exactly five hours in, the trait ended and reverted to normal.
No way! My battery!
Apparently, this unique trait had a duration limit, just like any other.
The silver lining: after the trait ended and a full day passed, it reactivated.
Duration: 5 hours.
Cooldown: 24 hours.
New intel acquired.
And so, day one, day two, day three...
Cheongun showed up without fail, sitting cross-legged beside her and burning time.
Of course, Hong So-yeon stared at him each time like he was some lunatic.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Mind your manners."
"Oh dear. If you're going mad, at least do it gracefully. Do you have any idea how terrifying and humiliating it is for a woman to have some maniac show up every day and stare so obsessively?"
"Better than dying, right?"
"..."
Hong So-yeon couldn't budge, sealed at the acupoints and bound head to toe.
And the location was the Justice Alliance branch's underground prison.
On top of that, this lunatic kept visiting daily to grate on her nerves—she was on the verge of going insane herself.
'I really picked the wrong guy to mess with.'
Hong So-yeon was quick on the uptake.
But Cheongun was the first whose eyes alone radiated pure madness.
And it wasn't just the eyes; she'd clashed arts with him and talked, so she was certain.
A madman of the world.
That was her assessment of Cheongun.
The best policy with madmen was to steer clear.
Especially strong ones versed in martial arts.
Hong So-yeon whipped her head away.
Seeing that, Cheongun spoke up.
"Hey."
"Don't talk to me."
Cheongun threateningly raised the fishing rod in his hand, and Hong So-yeon grumbled as she opened her mouth.
"What's your business?"
"What's your cultivation level?"
"How crude. Don't you know it's rude to ask about someone's realm?"
"Want me to crudely test it out?"
"Peak Entry."
Peak Entry, huh.
No wonder the internal energy in her hidden weapons felt unusual.
That was a realm where one could proudly call themselves a master in the martial world.
And this confirmed it.
The higher the demonic cultivator's martial level when facing them as an enemy, the stronger the trait boost.
The first demonic cultivator he'd met was Sa Uncheon of the Darkwood Sect, right?
Hong So-yeon was definitely a cut above that guy.
As a result, the trait enhancement was slightly but noticeably greater than with Sa Uncheon.
Hmm, all good anyway.
The stronger the foe, the stronger he gets.
Pretty significant info.
A few days later.
"Hey."
Hong So-yeon spoke to him first for the first time.
Even flashing a coy smile, like wagging her tail.
"I've got a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Why did a great hero like you spare my life? You must find me useful somehow, right? Even though I'm with the Heavenly Demon God Cult, nothing matters more to me than my own neck."
"Can't trust that."
"If I were that loyal, I'd have swallowed the poison pill the moment you caught me."
Hm, fair point.
She was the first assassin to spit out the poison pill because she didn't want to die.
"So? What do you want to say?"
"The moment I spat out that pill, I'd already betrayed the Demonic Cult. Once they learn I'm locked up here, the Shadow Flight Gate will send assassins to silence me immediately—before I can spill any internal secrets."
"I see."
"As I said, my life comes first. So if you guarantee my safety, couldn't I fully cooperate with you?"
"Cooperate how?"
"Don't you have business with the Heavenly Demon God Cult?"
Cheongun stared blankly at Hong So-yeon.
He did have business with the Heavenly Demon God Cult.
Because to Cheongun, demonic cultivators were like internal energy batteries.
One Hong So-yeon wasn't enough.
The more batteries, the better!
Periodic battery replenishment was essential for efficient internal energy growth.
And it wasn't just for martial arts.
He'd been pondering the exact same thing.
To live the idle, carefree life of contentment he ultimately sought, the Heavenly Demon God Cult had to be eliminated.
Then, Hong So-yeon, who had been gazing at Cheongun, parted her lips.
"I've got a great idea. Want to hear it?"
"What is it?"
"Lend me your ear. So, here's the thing..."
Deep into the night.
The underground prison was pitch black like ink.
A gasping breath shattered the silence.
Hong So-yeon sat leaning against the wall, still bound.
Her body frozen by sealed acupoints.
Through her disheveled clothes, smooth thighs peeked out.
Swoosh—
The darkness quivered faintly.
A black shadow skimmed the floor, approaching before a black-masked woman appeared beyond the iron bars.
An assassin from the Shadow Flight Gate.
Beneath the mask, her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
Finally, she looked down at Hong So-yeon and spoke.
"What a sight. Deputy Leader Hong."
Deputy Leader?
Hong So-yeon's eyes narrowed sharply at the words.
"Junior Sister Baek? Why are you here?"
The woman sneered.
"Why do you think? On the sect leader's orders. Forgive the rudeness."
"No forgiveness here. Can't you just go back empty-handed?"
"Afraid that's not possible. You know what happens to assassins who disobey orders, right?"
"What happens?"
"Ho ho! I'll show you starting now."
The masked woman laughed maniacally.
"No hard feelings. No personal grudge."
"Sure."
"Before that, care to give a final report? Depending on the intel's value, I might grant you a painless end as a special favor."
Hong So-yeon's breathing hitched.
Then, from her parted lips came a sigh-mingled voice.
"Lend me your ear?"
The masked woman leaned her ear to the bars.
Hong So-yeon barely moved to whisper into the woman's ear.
"Idiot."
"What?"
"You... you've been hooked."
That was when it happened.
"!!!"
Whip—!
The fishing line shot out from the corner, instantly wrapping around the woman's neck.
In that instant, a finger thrust from the darkness like lightning.
Hong So-yeon jabbed the woman's shoulder acupoint nimbly with internal energy-infused fingers.
Then, forcing her jaw open, she rummaged inside the mouth and...
Plop—
A single poison pill dropped to the floor.