A Murim Without the Heavenly Demon (2)
Anyone who's read a bit of martial arts novels knows the word Heavenly Demon. Hell, it's a title that pops up even outside wuxia stories. Can't be helped—it's just that cool. Heaven's cheon plus demon's ma? How do you even resist that? I totally agree that the Heavenly Demon embodies pure swag. But these days, it's gotten way overused just for being cool. Back in the old days, the Heavenly Demon showed up as the ultimate final boss of absolute evil. A villain dripping with charisma, you know? Then at some point, it shifted to the "necessary evil" or "actually a good guy" route and started becoming the protagonist. Lately, it's straight-up appearing as the heroine. A massive evil force wailing about persecution and survival of the fittest, aiming to unify Murim, suddenly turns into a cute little heroine? Feels like my memories got zapped by a gender-bender ray—bittersweet as hell...
But even so, the Heavenly Demon is still cool. Anything with "Heavenly Demon" slapped on it just feels badass. Heavenly Demon Great Annihilation Tribulation or Heavenly Demon Ruling Aura go without saying, and even Heavenly Demon Death Beam sent shivers down my spine. No wonder the very first thing I asked my Master when learning martial arts was whether the Demonic Cult existed. Anyway, long story short: there was no Demonic Cult in this Murim. Pretty damn certain, since Master—who roamed the world in his youth—told me so.
"This lady's name is Hong Yeonhwa. Though I have lost my power for now, as the 7th Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Heavenly Demon of this generation, I swear right here to repay the debt I owe you."
And then this woman right in front of me claims to be the Heavenly Demon. Of all people, a girl who's basically my ideal type, shaking out those massive tits—er, thrusting her chest forward as she says it.
Three possibilities spring to mind right away.
1. She has memories from Earth like me.
2. The Demonic Cult exists here but is super well-hidden.
3. She's just nuts.
One of those three, for sure. But whichever it is, I'm burying my past life memories where they belong. I've already died once and started a new life here. Pining for a past life I can't return to will just make my current one miserable.
...Honestly, my past life wasn't that great anyway. Don't get into crypto, folks...
I shook my head to scatter the blue charts that flashed in my mind and opened my mouth.
"Uh, Miss Hong?"
"What is it?"
Her head tilt was kinda cute.
"Well, my name's Jin Sochan. But Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? What's that?"
"What? How could you not know of the Divine Cult? Are you holed up in some backwoods mountain, cut off from the world...?"
"This is kinda rural, sure, but not that deep in the sticks. I head down to the village once a week for supplies, so I'm not that out of touch."
"Then how do you not know of the Divine Cult? We never touched the common folk, but we toppled the Murim Alliance and spread our name across the land!"
What the hell? The Murim Alliance is fine as can be. I saw some of their warriors pounding drinks in the village just last week. Still remember them strutting around in those flashy robes embroidered with a huge on the back, soaking up all the stares—total try-hards.
So, not number 2. The way she boldly declared herself the Heavenly Demon earlier? No secret organization leader would out themselves like that.
Let's probe a bit more.
"Don't talk like that—you'll cause a panic. The Murim Alliance is doing just fine. If it were gone, the riffraff from Sama Lian would run rampant, and imagining the chaos they'd cause is scary enough."
But Hong Yeonhwa just tilted her head the other way at my words.
"Sama Lian...? What bunch of trash is that? And the real villains are those Murim Alliance bastards hiding behind the mask of righteousness. This lady still remembers the Namgung family's deeds—worse than dogs."
Now it was my turn to tilt my head.
"Uh... all I hear about the Namgung family these days is good stuff."
Something about slaying a demon lord, their eldest son's talent making him a shoo-in to win the next Yongbong Tournament and earn the title Sword Dragon, or how they distributed food in Anhui Province last year during the famine. Sure, they could be different behind closed doors, but the rumors are all positive.
Hong Yeonhwa's face turned serious, and she started hopping mad, rattling off atrocities she claimed to have witnessed and punished herself. Her pretty lips reciting heaven-defying horrors was shocking, but I couldn't focus on the content at all.
Jiggle jiggle.
Those free-spirited tits bouncing with every hop. Naturally, the undergarments here aren't as advanced as Earth's. Chest wraps don't hold things as firmly as a modern bra. And the clothes she's wearing now? Mine. Her petite frame makes the loose collar slip open bit by bit under the motion. Cleavage already on full display, and now it's sliding even lower.
I... can't look away...!
But I can't let it show, so I forced a solemn expression and nodded.
"I see."
"Hmm... to think such things happened."
"Even so, that's a bit much."
I threw in some appropriate agreements too.
"...Are you even listening to me?"
Shit, busted. Hong Yeonhwa was glaring daggers.
How...? The angle should've made it impossible to tell if I was looking at her face or her chest.
Nah. Now I see—she doesn't even care about her slipping collar. Must be annoyed at my half-assed reactions.
I'd heard deep voices inspire trust. I lowered mine and spoke.
"Of course I was listening. If what you say is true, Miss Hong, then the righteous sects—the Murim Alliance—are rotten to the core."
"Exactly! You get it! And it was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that smashed that Murim Alliance!"
Hong Yeonhwa crossed her arms, lifting her chest proudly, and nodded in satisfaction.
I'd only half-listened, but she'd rambled so much a few stuck. And damn, they were brutal. The Namgung young master raping helpless women and killing them to cover it up. Sacheon Dangga systematically kidnapping beggars for human experiments. Hwasan Taoists, mad with greed, teaming up with bandits to sell off locals.
Just the ones I remembered were that bad. At this point, yeah, you could call them dogs in righteous clothing—if she's telling the truth.
Listening closely, lots of details didn't match. Names of people, martial arts, organization members—all different. Felt like some street-vendor wuxia novel with a few tweaks.
By the way, this world has wuxia novels too. Just like the modern world had modern fiction.
My reactions weren't satisfying her, so Hong Yeonhwa pondered for a bit, then—"That's it!"—clapped and pointed.
"Those clothes!"
"Clothes?"
"The ones this lady was wearing! The sleeve has the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's emblem embroidered on it!"
Was there...? Anyway, at her request, I handed over the neatly folded outfit. I'd pulled it out earlier under the pretense of her changing, so it was right there.
Hong Yeonhwa took it, spread the sleeve, and checked. Plain black martial robes, no fancy patterns, but high-quality fabric. And on the sleeve: a unique design stitched in red thread.
"This is it! This is the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's emblem! And these robes! Made of heavenly silkworm thread, only the Cult Leader can wear such a supreme treasure! These clothes symbolize the existence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and that this lady is the Heavenly Demon of the era!"
Having found what she wanted, Hong Yeonhwa beamed and proudly showed me the sleeve.
Uh, um...
I plastered on my most benevolent smile and said,
"Got it. I believe you, Miss Hong—that you're the Heavenly Demon. Should I start calling you Heavenly Demon from now on?"
"Y-you believe me? No need for that. This lady is magnanimous. You're neither of the Divine Cult nor its enemy, so I won't demand excessive courtesy or make you change how you address me now."
"In that case..."
I nodded like I understood, but she seemed fidgety for some reason.
"Do you get it now...? This lady has more than enough power to repay you. So, um..."
Her attitude flipped from her earlier boldness—I could guess what she wanted to say.
Does she think I'll kick her out without compensation?
"Stay as long as you like and recover. It's not that remote here, but it's still the mountains. In your current state, you'd collapse before reaching the village below, and all my efforts to save you would be wasted, right?"
"Th-thank you! I swear again to repay the grace you've shown me."
Her face lit up like a flower blooming. I couldn't help but smirk back at her smile.
"By the way... since we're on the topic, can I call you something more casual, Miss Hong?"
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Honestly, keeping up this grand hero speech pattern that's too big for my body is tougher than I thought. My throat hurts from pitching my voice low the whole time. Guess there's no swag without a price...
Of course, I couldn't say that, so I made an excuse.
"We'll be seeing each other a lot for a while. Standing on ceremony every time would just tire us both out. Feel free to drop the formalities with me too, Miss Hong."
"Well... you're right. This lady said no need for excessive courtesy, and above all, you're my benefactor... Fine! I permit you to address me casually."
"Thanks."
"Uh...?"
"You said to speak casually, right? We look about the same age, so I figured I'd drop the honorifics."
"Same... age?"
Hong Yeonhwa made a face like a pigeon hit by a BB gun. Why so shocked? That's how you get close—start with casual speech.
Part of why I saved her was basic human decency, but yeah, she's my type too.
"Anyway, story time's over for now. Wanna eat? Your body's still weak, so I'll whip up some porridge. Hang tight."
I said that and brushed past Hong Yeonhwa—who still had her mouth agape—as I headed outside.
As I finely chopped the wild boar meat I'd hunted earlier and added it to the porridge, I recalled that sleeve emblem from moments ago.
Definitely the Fengyu Merchant Group's mark, right? Looks like Hong Yeonhwa's a case of number 3—head's a bit off.
...Whatever! She's pretty and stacked, so it's fine!
Plus, after what she went through at such a young age, it's no wonder her head's scrambled. The Fengyu Merchant Group, which was thriving around here until recently... got wiped out by some unorthodox master called Cheok An Geum Gwi.