Chapter 38: Shitty Guts
Pour. Clink.
I poured the steeped tea from the teapot into the cup. Brewed from dried leaves rather than a teabag, it came out dark—probably oversteeped.
[That's not how it's done.]
'As long as it tastes good, who cares.'
[Tsk tsk... Must be that yokai blood. You don't even know proper tea ceremony?]
I ignored the commentary. God, I missed my coffee pot and teabags.
"Kim, go brew some iced green tea!"
...My section chief's finicky tastes came to mind. Not that I missed those days much, but teabags sure were convenient.
Anyway.
"Here. Drink."
Sa Wol had been staring at the amount I poured, then belatedly bowed her head and took a sip.
Slurp!
She downed the steaming hot tea in one gulp. No flinch, no blink—like she couldn't feel the heat. Then she stood.
"Thank you. I'll be going now."
"Where do you think you're off to? Sit."
"I've finished the tea, though..."
"Don't you know tea ceremony? Who chugs it like that?"
Pa Cheon let out a baffled heh. Ignoring him, I poured more.
"Slowly. Savor it. Let it linger. Don't go rushing off and look lacking."
"...Understood."
Sa Wol grudgingly followed orders. Like a newborn calf trembling on its legs—what was she even planning to do? If I let her out like that, she'd either collapse into trauma or swing her sword wildly.
I sat across from her and knocked back my own cup.
'Ugh, bitter.'
Definitely oversteeped. But I kept a straight face—no grimacing to lose face. I'd reached the level where I could manage expressions mid-swordfight; this was nothing.
The real problem wasn't the bitter, astringent taste.
'This is awkward as hell!'
Being alone with Sa Wol like this was a first. Even when the Black Shadow Corps moved together, Tak Horak was always there. I'd thought the guy chatty and sly, but right now, I'd kill for his presence.
'Gotta get closer to her, though.'
Things were different from the start, at least. Whether from implanting the idea that I was strong, or my small kindnesses sticking, she wasn't lunging to kill me. The gu poison helped her hold back, sure—but if her eyes rolled back in rage, poison or no, she'd snap. Mutual destruction was a wuxia staple, after all.
Anyway, I desperately needed allies in the Divine Cult.
I'd already built connections outside: Un Yeop Ja, future top Kunlun sword; Dang Si Hyeok, third son but direct Tang Clan lineage. Heavy hitters.
But inside the Cult? No real allies yet. Tak Horak might jump into fire if I asked—after a moment's hesitation—but he was too weak. Mature first-rate earned respect anywhere in the jianghu, but in the Cult? A dime a dozen.
Watching her, Sa Wol gave off wounded cat vibes. Touch her wrong, and she'd hiss.
So I had to tread carefully. How to win over this skittish stray?
"Sa Wol."
"Yes."
"I've got a question."
One way only.
Build common ground.
If I'd confused her before, now I needed to plant the idea we weren't enemies.
"Which district are you from?"
"The 6th Demon Realm."
The Cult had districts. At the center: the main stronghold, home to the Heavenly Demon, the Six Demonic Families, and their kin. Radiating out in rings: six Demon Realms total.
The 6th was for sinners and outcasts. A sinful space of the living dead.
"I see."
Of course, it was a lie—Sa Wol was from the stronghold. But she'd lived in the 6th.
"Must've been quite the journey to Black Shadow Corps vice-commander from there."
A noble girl stripped of her lineage, plummeting to the depths. Clawing up from hell to survive. Even infiltrating her enemy's house for revenge.
"All of it..."
Sa Wol continued.
"...thanks to the Sado Family's grace. I am eternally grateful."
Her words rang hollow; her face chilled past blank to frosty. Killing intent, no doubt. She harbored deep hatred for the Sado Family. Just thinking of them triggered it.
"Even with our clan's support, reaching Peak at your age is impressive. Almost like the Heavenly Demon Lord himself."
"Please withdraw such undeserved praise. Do not compare me to the Lord."
"No, it's not undeserved. All Cultists revere the Heavenly Demon Lord, but that doesn't make him the only Heavenly Demon."
Cultists worshiped the Heavenly Demon. But he wasn't a god. If he were, the title wouldn't pass on. No—the Heavenly Demon was the one who challenged and conquered. That's why Cult kids dreamed: "I wanna be Heavenly Demon when I grow up!"
"Isn't that everyone's dream? Becoming Heavenly Demon, commanding the Cult."
Sa Wol met my eyes, then—surprisingly—asked first.
"Somehow, it feels like you don't share that dream, Commander."
"Who knows."
I swallowed more tea. Filthily bitter.
"My dream's a bit different."
Mine wasn't conquering demons, ruling the Cult, dominating the jianghu. Just one thing.
"Thrashing to survive—that's my dream."
Sa Wol's brow twitched.
"Surprised expression."
"Aren't you the Sado heir? I thought you'd aim higher."
"A family name's just a facade. Strip it away..."
I locked eyes with her.
"...and I've got nothing. Rock bottom."
Rarely, emotion flickered on Sa Wol's face: faint anger, injustice.
"You speak like you know that bottom. Something you'll never experience."
"Don't take pride in the depths, Sa Wol. Hell isn't yours alone. The Sado Family, and my 'brother'..."
I grimaced at "family" and "brother." Deliberate disgust. Sa Wol's eyes wavered. Publicly, I was tight with this body's brother, Sado Gwang.
Of course, the disgust wasn't all act.
I'd endured my own hells. Subtle orphan discrimination. Years scrambling not to be ignored, scarred into my soul. Now dropped into Murim Return, 24/7 life-or-death tightrope.
Pa Cheon was no different. Prodigy turned fallen phoenix. Though he didn't remember.
Did she sense it? Or just masking?
Sa Wol's face blanked again.
'Real cat-like.'
Hiss at every word. Time to stop. Still, I'd hinted at unseen rifts between me, the family, and "brother."
First step: make her see me apart from the Sados.
"Seems calmer now."
The thickest fog had lifted; lights from the lead ship shone through. Safe enough—no trauma trigger for her.
"Let's head back."
Sa Wol rose, bowed. At the door, she paused.
"The tea... was good."
I didn't reply. She left.
Reason for silence?
[You. Yokai.]
Pa Cheon spoke with murderous edge.
[What nonsense was that? Slandering my family and brother?]
"Don't get emotional. I was talking about me."
[You?]
"By your logic, I'm just possessing your body. One slip, one suspicious act, and I'm grilled. That's the anxiety."
[Fair point.]
Simple Pa Cheon bought it. I nodded.
"Back home, you'll have to fill me in. Or we'll get caught."
[Why not confess to brother? He'd understand.]
That's exactly why, nearly slipped my tongue.
"No. Fewer know secrets, the better—even family."
[But...]
"Sorry, but your trustworthy brother is just someone I need to fool."
Pa Cheon went quiet, sulking like a laid sword.
If truly trustworthy, I'd spill.
But Sado Gwang? No.
Sado Gwang was Murim Return's villain. Genius brain, serpent tongue, wielding vast malice—no redemption. Only the patriarch knew his true face.
'Poor guy.'
I pitied Pa Cheon. Victim of his brother, yet blindly faithful.
'Doesn't even know that brother crippled his talent.'
Pa Cheon was a genius. Not Heavenly Demon tier, but prodigious. Brothers shining made Sado Family festive. Only "Seven Demonic Families" without a Heavenly Demon—they expected big.
And then.
'Forced half-assed Heavenly Demon Divine Art, turning him meridian-blocked.'
Pa Cheon's blockage: incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Fed to him by brother Sado Gwang, disguised as family art "Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art."
Jealousy would've been kinder. No—more sinister, crueler.
'Just... an experiment.'
To see what half the art did to a body. Pure curiosity ruined him. Death sentence for a martial artist.
'And I have to face that guy.'
Not like geniuses I'd met: Un Yeop Ja, Paeng So So, even Sa Wol—martial-focused.
Sado Gwang? Maxed intellect genius.
'Wanna run.'
Run? 100% death. Cult never spares deserters. I'd last a month, tops.
Fight? 10% survival shot. Slim, but possible. Must.
I had acting, Murim Return knowledge.
And one unbeatable edge.
Will.
'Time to go full shitty guts.'
I steeled myself.
Three days later.
The usually quiet Black Shadow Corps ship buzzed.
"The Divine Cult is in sight!"
Far off.
Through thinning mist, sheer peaks faintly emerged.
Finally, arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon