209
Humans have a primal tendency to be drawn to violence.
It is no coincidence that one of the three great spectacles in life is water, fire, and a fight.
For those living in the Central Plains, clashes between Murim factions are a disaster up close—but from a safe distance, there is nothing more thrilling to watch.
"I'm telling you, the victims of the Sichuan Tang Clan are crying out for bloody revenge!"
"Is that so? What I heard was that a bunch of Sex Demons were just raiding the Tang Clan."
"Let's just watch from afar."
Late into the night.
People stayed awake with bright eyes. They watched from a distance as the attackers massed against the Tang Clan, each betting on whether the Tang Clan would win or the assailants would.
"Tsk."
Yuk Sam, a warrior expelled from the Tang Clan, found the sight of people treating the clan's misfortune as a spectacle utterly distasteful.
Though he had been cast out for exceeding the prescribed dosage of poison, the Tang Clan was still a source of pride for him. He was proud enough to have once been a warrior of the clan and bragged about it whenever he entered a minor sect.
Had the clan ordered his dantian destroyed, he might have joined the attackers in raiding them himself. But Yuk Sam had been allowed to keep his body intact on the condition he never use the Tang Clan's martial arts again.
So while he did not join the assault, he also did not go inside to fight the attackers. He had decided to become a bystander.
"Hmm?"
A strange smell pricked his nose, and Yuk Sam turned his head. Beside him, a small girl was silently staring at the Sichuan Tang Clan, a skewer of well-roasted frog in her hands.
"Little one, did you come to watch too?"
"...Yes."
The girl pointed at the Sichuan Tang Clan while chewing on a frog leg.
"What's happening over there right now?"
"Those who came to take revenge on the Tang Clan are exacting it. It's a Murim matter. Bystanders like us could get seriously hurt if we get involved."
"Revenge... against the Tang Clan."
The girl looked deeply somber.
"Is the Tang Clan really full of bad people?"
"I don't know. At the very least, they aren't good people."
"Why? They were only researching poisons."
"Probably because in the process, the number of people getting hurt began to pile up."
Yuk Sam smiled bitterly. He rolled up his own sleeve, revealing an arm darkened with discoloration on one side.
"It's not contagious, so don't be alarmed. It's a scar left from being injured by the Tang Clan's poison long ago, after it was treated."
"...You too?"
"Well, in my case, I reaped what I sowed."
Yuk Sam shook his head. The attackers were beginning to stir.
"Ultimately, there's such a thing as karma in all matters."
"Karma... Does the Tang Clan need to change?"
"I'm not even a member of the Tang Clan. How would I know—"
Wraoomph.
The darkness suddenly brightened. The painful glare of the flames made Yuk Sam shudder, as if he were hallucinating.
"...Are they insane?!"
Not content with surrounding the Tang Clan, the attackers set fire to the estate's walls.
It was no typical raid where the main gate was smashed, the sect plaque trampled, and duels to the death unfolded. This was a malicious act of arson driven by a clear intent for 'extermination.'
"Utter... madness...! This is basically declaring war!"
Yuk Sam hurried to hide himself, fearing the stray flames might catch him.
"Little one, this place is dangerous! Run away quickly...?"
The girl who had been next to him until a moment ago had vanished without a trace.
In that interval.
The Flame Demon began to engulf the Tang Clan, illuminating the darkness of Chengdu.
* * *
At the same moment the Sichuan Tang Clan was consumed by the Flame Demon.
The grounds of an inn in Xi'an, Shaanxi, were filled with heated fervor.
"Hoo, impressive."
The Demonic Sword Consort brushed her sweat-soaked hair back and smiled brightly. Before her, two swordswomen in red martial attire had collapsed from exhaustion.
"Haah, haah. You flatter us...!"
"Truly, the world is wide... The path of the sword is endless."
The two young women knelt on one knee, bracing their entire bodies against swords stabbed into the ground as they caught their breath. The refusal to collapse disgracefully was worthy of Mount Hua.
"You are strong. I truly look forward to your future as swordswomen."
The Demonic Sword Consort praised the two youths with benevolent eyes. Setting aside black and white, as a comrade walking the same path of the sword, she praised the growth of these young masters.
"If you train for about thirty more years at this rate, you might even surpass my current self. Fufu."
"Thirty years..."
The two swordswomen forced themselves up. Their legs trembled uncontrollably, as if they might collapse at any moment, but the spirit of Mount Hua residing in their bodies pulled them upright.
"Plum Blossom Swordwoman Ja Woo-yang acknowledges defeat."
"Plum Blossom Swordwoman Ja Cheong-ha gives thanks for the Sword Pavilion Master's teachings."
Waaaaaah!!
The onlookers roared in applause at the two youths' gracious acceptance of defeat. In the surrounding empty lot, no one was hurt and no one suffered harm; the duel ended beautifully and splendidly.
As expected of the Sword Pavilion Master! Khh, no wonder tales say the previous Heavenly Demon fell for the Sword Pavilion Master and carried her off as his Sword Demon!
She would be worthy of being called a Sword Empress if only she weren't a demon... No! Considering her achievements for Shaanxi, she should be called the Shaanxi Sword Empress!
I want to marry the Demonic Sword Consort...!!
"Fufufu."
The Demonic Sword Consort inwardly cheered at the murmuring voices of the crowd, but she only chuckled softly and sheathed her sword.
'If only they were twenty years younger.'
Twenty years ago, she had been weaker than these two swordswomen. Had she been born just twenty years later, or had they been born twenty years earlier, the Demonic Sword Consort might have been able to form a fine relationship with the two swordswomen before her.
"...Sigh."
But she had grown too quickly through the sword.
After seeing the sword of someone she idolized as a woman—no, as a martial artist—she trained relentlessly with the single-minded desire to discuss the sword with that person, and became far too powerful.
- Heavenly Demon, sir? Why are you abandoning me?
- Grr...! I do not like a woman who is stronger than me with the sword!
The previous Heavenly Demon who had drawn her in as his Sword Demon neglected her after his defeat by the sword. Having already given her body and heart to the Demonic Cult, she was abandoned by the Heavenly Demon for the mere reason that 'her sword was stronger than a man's.'
The current Heavenly Demon, son of the previous one to whom she had given her heart, was no different.
"...Is there truly no man who can defeat me with the sword?"
The Demonic Sword Consort suddenly felt empty and upset.
With so many men in the world, why is there only one swordsperson who can defeat her? And why does it have to be a woman!
'And Geomdam isn't even coming.'
Every man with a reputation for swordsmanship gave up on sparring with the Demonic Sword Consort. She, too, had no desire to threaten a family man with her sword and steal him away.
"...Anyone who can strike me down, come forward and challenge me!"
Demonic Sword Consort!! Demonic Sword Consort!! Demonic Sword Consort!!
The Demonic Sword Consort responded to the crowd's cheers with a faint smile as she took her leave.
Initially, she drew the public's attention to hunt down Sex Demons, but as time went on, the promised Sex Demons never appeared, and only those seeking to duel the Demonic Sword Consort flocked in ever-increasing numbers.
The Demonic Sword Consort herself did not mind.
If by any chance a man could defeat her, she was prepared to grab his legs on the spot and never let him go.
Demonic Sword Consort, this year, age fif—
"You have returned, Sword Pavilion Master."
Two women dressed in Sword Pavilion attire greeted her inside the inn. They were not swords practitioners themselves, but the sight of these two juniors of the White Path who had joined her cause improved her previously soured mood instantly.
"Your manners are quite proper."
"It is basic courtesy toward a senior."
"Pavilion Master, how were the Plum Blossom Swordwomen?"
"They are strong, but their swords were full of distracting thoughts."
The Demonic Sword Consort shook her head and gently seated herself.
"Rather than thinking of how to grow stronger themselves, their obsession with 'I must be stronger than that person' is too potent. Unless they overcome that, they are children who will hinder each other's growth."
"You mean they have become each other's targets?"
"Yes. In youth, it is a rivalry of goodwill, but I am uncertain if it will remain a goodwill rivalry when they grow older."
The Demonic Sword Consort accepted the drink poured by her two juniors.
"Hoo, now in Shaanxi it is time to slowly—"
Clack. The Demonic Sword Consort set down her cup. Female masters of the Sword Pavilion lurking in various places drew their blades and aimed them at the uninvited guest.
"I do not welcome visitors who arrive outside the designated hours."
"Haha, Demonic Sword Consort. I would be disappointed if you had forgotten me."
The man who had entered the inn smiled, swirling his liquor.
"Could it be you are—"
"I have discarded my old name. I am now called Cheongchangsal."
"It has been a long time. Have a seat. As for these children..."
"Lady Demonic Sword Consort. I regret that hearing my story will likely cause you to immediately rise to leave, but perhaps we should speak while you move?"
At Cheongchangsal's insolent words, the women of the Sword Pavilion all emanated a menacing aura. The Demonic Sword Consort also seemed displeased as she lightly downed her drink.
"The flavor of the wine has soured. I hope the liquor you have brought is cleaner than this. Otherwise, I will have to use you as a side dish instead."
"Geomdam."
The Demonic Sword Consort shot up from her seat.
"Rumors are circulating that a man named Geomdam has been recruiting Sex Demons to strike the Sichuan Tang Clan. From what I hear... he intends to take revenge on the Tang Clan and defile the beauties of the clan."
"......Ahahahaha!!"
The Demonic Sword Consort doubled over, laughing loudly.
"That bastard dares to ignore me and go to Sichuan...?"
Creak, creeeak.
Monstrous Qi began to surge. The Demonic Sword Consort pulled back on the outer garment she had been about to shed.
"I will go personally. The Sichuan Tang Clan is being raided? Perfect timing. I have killed all the Sex Demons in Shaanxi, so now I shall go kill the Sex Demons of Sichuan."
"Yes, Pavilion Master!"
The Demonic Sword Consort led her Sword Pavilion forces and the forces of the Sichuan Rear Fortress Star toward Sichuan.
* * *
"I sensed a strange fiery energy, and sure enough, Seo-hee's house is burning merrily."
Lee Si-a and I stepped out of the Secret Vault to survey our surroundings. Acrid smoke was beginning to fill the Tang Clan, and torches started flying inside from the outside.
"This wasn't meant to be simple. They're trying to completely exterminate the Tang Clan."
"You... insane..."
Lee Si-a clenched her fist so hard blood welled from her hand.
"The moment this gets branded as the Demonic Cult's doing..."
"The Great Righteous-Demonic War will erupt."
The Thunder Demon's actions were far more radical and extreme than I had expected.
Even when proclaiming bloody revenge against the Tang Clan, there is a line the public can accept. The Thunder Demon not only crossed that line but set fire to it entirely.
"The Tang Clan's warriors... Tch. Are they struggling to fight back?"
"If your house is on fire and you just wait for the enemy to attack, you'll only burn to death."
A clan estate is the family's foundation. No matter how many mechanical formations are installed or how much poison is stockpiled, if it all burns away in flames, it becomes completely useless.
"Everyone is too occupied with putting out the fire."
The warriors who had been preparing to paralyze or poison anyone smashing through the main gate or leaping over the walls were instead frantically hauling water to douse the torches, or beating at the flames with blankets in a desperate bid to extinguish them.
"To set fire to the Flame Demon's own house to humiliate the Flame Demon... is there any raid more senselessly cruel than this?"
"Is that what you say after setting fire to someone else's house?"
A curt voice sounded from below as Dang Seo-hee, the Flame Demon, climbed out.
"Absolute chaos here. This must be the eldest young master..."
"Without that bastard's permission, this couldn't happen."
The Thunder Demon acting alone to commit such an extreme deed? That's impossible. The Thunder Demon is extremely cautious and systematic by nature, but she also understands the 'scope of responsibility' given to her.
If this were the Thunder Demon doing this alone, it would be a problem resolved by the Heavenly Demon expelling the Thunder Demon from the Ten Demons. But if the Thunder Demon acted on the orders of the 'Eldest Prince,' the story changes.
A potential future Heavenly Demon has burned down the Sichuan Tang Clan. The entire White Path Murim will be put on edge, and the destruction of the Tang Clan becomes the trigger point for the next Great Righteous-Demonic War.
"Why would the Eldest Prince suddenly commit such an act?"
"We'll find out when we capture him and beat the truth out of him later. First, let's deal with this mess. Flame Demon, do something."
"Your Highness, however I may look, I am a Harmony Realm master, you know?"
Dang Seo-hee brought her hands together as if in prayer.
Though she is completely helpless and spreads her legs for me, and though she was beaten by Lee Si-a like a mad dog struck with a stick club, Dang Seo-hee was an existence that could safely be regarded as the 'Greatest Master in Sichuan.'
"And since my master has kindly infused me with Yang Energy, I am currently at my strongest."
"Oho, bursting with confidence, are we?"
"Of course. Because..."
Wraoomph.
Dang Seo-hee stretched both hands toward the sky.
"I am now the Flying Heaven Flame Demon."
The flames that had struck the Tang Clan began to soar high into the sky.