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Following the Demonic Sword Consort's orders, the Sword Pavilion disciples fled north, carrying the violated woman.
The Demonic Sword Consort was buying time for them to escape. But a disagreement arose among the women following her—the members of the Sex Demon Execution Squad.
"We must go back and help Lady Demonic Sword Consort at once!"
"No. The Demonic Sword Consort commanded us to escape with this woman."
Moyong Ran insisted they turn back now before it was too late and fight beside the Demonic Sword Consort, while the Sword Pavilion disciples argued they should follow her orders exactly. The clash of opinions grew heated.
"How can you do that? Lady Demonic Sword Consort is your master! When a master is in danger, her disciples should help!"
"Our master told us to trust her. How can we disobey her command?"
"What if the Demonic Sword Consort falls to the Sex Demon...!"
"There's no chance of that at all! Shut your mouth, you wench!"
The mood between them turned increasingly hostile. The rest had their own thoughts and could hardly speak up.
"...Cough! Hack!"
The woman lying in the undergrowth vomited dark red blood. The Sword Pavilion disciples hastily examined her condition and exchanged urgent opinions.
"We need to go to Xi'an, Junior Sister. Get medicine there and treat her."
"I suppose we must..."
"From here all the way to Xi'an?"
Moyong Ran cut into the conversation.
"You all... are you really going to just leave like this...?"
"This wench has been spoiled rotten by the pavilion master and has no sense...!"
"Junior Sister, calm down!"
The Sword Pavilion disciples exchanged glances toward the fallen woman—Thunder Demon—and held a silent conversation with their eyes.
Thunder Demon. The matriarch of a hundred thousand demonic practitioners had been violated. The Demonic Sword Consort said she would buy 'time' against the one who had defiled her.
In other words, even at the cost of her own body, she intended to protect Thunder Demon, who was among the current Ten Demons. An aged, retired Sword Demon being violated would not significantly damage the Demonic Cult's prestige, but the violation of a current Ten Demon—and the Heavenly Demon's wet nurse, no less—carried enormous meaning.
The Sword Pavilion disciples had a duty to safeguard Thunder Demon, to make her flee far from the Sex Demon.
"...She doesn't appear to have major wounds. In that case, going back to assist Lady Demonic Sword Consort and subdue the Sex Demon might be the better course!"
"That mouth of yours runs wild...!"
Meanwhile, Moyong Ran, who believed the violated woman was just an ordinary woman, chose to go back and fight. It was a direct contradiction of the Demonic Sword Consort's orders, but no one was there to stop her.
"I think the same!"
Bang Yeong-hui also sided with Moyong Ran. The two White Path women who had joined the Sex Demon Execution Squad fiercely wanted to help the Demonic Sword Consort.
"...Then you two go assist the pavilion master."
The Sword Pavilion disciples pointed south while supporting Thunder Demon.
"W-wait... please...."
The woman who had been spitting blood—Thunder Demon—raised a trembling hand and called out to the two women.
"Falling victim... haah... to that man is... cough... my own karma... There must be no more victims..."
Thunder Demon staggered and righted herself. She stomped through the mud, her clothes reduced to rags, yet she was the strongest martial artist among them.
"I am grateful for your help... but all of you leave. Flee from the Sex Demon."
"We cannot! We are—"
Zzzt!
No sooner had Thunder Demon's body vanished than the two White Path women collapsed as if knocked unconscious. Thunder Demon handed them over to the Sword Pavilion disciples and smiled through the strain.
"...The women of the White Path are truly righteous."
"Lady Thunder Demon, what should we do?"
"Take these two and flee to Xi'an. I will finish my business... and return."
"Lady Thunder Demon?!"
Thunder Demon shook her head firmly.
"I still... haven't done what I must."
Thunder Demon straightened her clothes and ran south. She was far too fast for the Sword Pavilion disciples to chase.
While she had been unconscious, Thunder Demon had already grasped everything.
The Flying Heaven Flame Demon. Little Princess Lee Si-a. Geomdam. No Demon. And a man so strong there was no equal under heaven. A man who hid no lust in his gaze toward women. With her mind racing fiercely, she realized who Geomdam really was.
"Aah, Lord No Demon...!"
Tingle.
Thunder Demon ran through the forest again and again with rapture in her eyes, as if entranced by something.
"So it was you, my lord...!"
Drip.
A clear droplet trickled down Thunder Demon's thigh.
* * *
I sent the Miyeom Divine Art to the Demonic Cult. Originally, it was an internal energy art connected to the Divine Spear's Cloud Dragon Crescent Moon Spear, but I sent it to the Demonic Cult as I pleased.
The Heavenly Demon must have used it to solidify his power. For those who age and grow old, nothing is more important than tending their hair, and the Miyeom Divine Art is an excellent internal energy art that suppresses the side effects of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
However, there are occasionally those who suffer no side effects even after mastering the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Most of them don't lose their hair—not because there are no side effects, but because the loss starts elsewhere in the body first.
In other words, their other body hair begins to fall out. The Demonic Sword Consort before my eyes was exactly that case.
—Hairlessness is a matter of taste. But do you know why hairlessness is beautiful? Because it means someone shaved off the hair meant to protect the body for the sake of intercourse. How beautiful is that tender devotion toward one's man?
'Blood Cult Leader, you were right.'
The Blood Cult Leader once said that pubic hair grows to signal, "My precious thing is here," and to entice the opposite sex with its strong sexual scent.
But that is merely human physical development and physiology. In the affair of mutual joy between man and woman, the absence of pubic hair holds only a single meaning.
—Is there any other reason a woman shaves it off than to look beautiful even down there for her man?
And so the Blood Cult Leader called it the White Treasure—likening a woman's pure intent to look beautiful for a man to a white jewel from which all black marks had vanished.
"Y-you scoundrel...!"
Having revealed her White Treasure, the Demonic Sword Consort's face flushed crimson with shame. That reaction was like watching a virgin maiden, and it only further inflamed my lustful heart that had already seen her White Treasure.
"I was just going to hold you off moderately and get back to the woman I was originally going to violate, but it can't be helped. I hadn't intended to take this out..."
I reached into my trousers and drew out my manhood. The Demonic Sword Consort's gaze fixed upon my rigidly erect manhood, and she gulped with fear and terror.
"Y-you cowardly Sex Demon..."
"Why? You said I could have you if I beat you."
"Winning like this, and you spout such bullshit!"
"Huh? Did you think I'd cross swords with you for hundreds—thousands—of exchanges and trade blade for blade?"
The Demonic Sword Consort's eyes were filled with resentment. As a woman mad about the sword, she truly wanted to fight a proper duel, clashing blades against Geomdam the sword master.
"I'm not the kind of swordsman you imagine."
I am no seeker of truth who pursues the Dao through the sword. If pressed, I'd say my philosophy is closer to that of the Sky-Shattering Divine Sword, and I have been deeply influenced by my master's teachings and the Blood Cult Leader's words.
A sword is merely a tool for killing an opponent.
A sword is merely one of the weapons people use when they wish to establish a hierarchy of dominance and submission.
A sword is merely one of many sharp implements useful for threatening an opponent.
Yet they all shared one opinion.
The King of All Weapons.
The sword possesses a 'splendor' unlike other weapons. Through my spar with the Sword Immortal, I was able to change my view of the sword just a little. Those who wield the sword have their own style of splendor, and I can fully understand the appeal of showing off with the sword as well.
'But that sort of thing should be left for the flashy types to do among themselves.'
I intend to use the sword to subdue and violate my opponents. I merely offer my sincere apologies to the countless swordsmen out there.
"I am sorry. Sorry that I am using the sword to violate you. As a token of apology, allow me to present my beloved sword."
I grabbed the Demonic Sword Consort by the hips to prevent her from escaping. She tried to scramble away on her back, but I crawled forward on my knees, matching her retreat.
"S-stop! Stop it!"
"Humans fear the unknown above all else."
Tap. Tap. I lifted my manhood and tapped it against the Demonic Sword Consort's pubic bone as if knocking.
"Aaaaah!"
The Demonic Sword Consort screamed in fright. She seemed to feel an indescribable terror at actually being violated.
"Don't worry. It won't hurt. What's the matter? Are you a virgin?"
"Y-you...!"
I asked deliberately, even though I knew the answer. Then I held her hips firmly to keep her from fleeing any further. The Demonic Sword Consort pressed her hands hard against the ground and flung a handful of dirt at me.
Dust covered my face. I closed my eyelids and waited for the dust to settle, and in that interval, the Demonic Sword Consort beat and clawed at my wrist, struggling desperately to break free.
"It's useless. This is the rod your sword couldn't cut. Having lost your sword, there's no way you can wound my body."
"N-no...!"
Slowly, I parted the Demonic Sword Consort's petals with my manhood. Thanks to the side effects of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, her White Treasure lay fully exposed in shape and color—like a white lotus, paler than a soft pink, with only the very tips of the petals faintly flushed red.
"It won't hurt. Don't worry. I might not know much else, but I don't treat pretty women roughly."
I lowered my upper body and brought my eyes close to the Demonic Sword Consort's.
"Or... would you prefer I do it roughly, like a proper Sex Demon? Would you prefer I truly fuck you like a demon violating you?"
"You're violating me right now!"
"Heh, are you going back on your own words? Didn't you say that whoever defeats you can violate you? Then this is consensual sex. You wagered your body as the prize, and I am the victor who won your body as the top prize, am I not?"
Therefore, this is mutually agreed-upon dual cultivation. I am certainly not violating the Demonic Sword Consort.
"Or how about this? I'll violate you. And you try defeating me once with the sword."
"What on earth—"
"Phantom Ghost Connection."
I placed my hand upon the Demonic Sword Consort's head and sent her consciousness into a dream.
* * *
"...Huh?"
Wang So-hyeon opened her eyes. The bamboo forest she had just been in was gone, and the Geomdam who had been about to violate her had also vanished.
"Could this be...?"
"It's the illusion sorcery of the Phantom Demon. Phantom Ghost Connection."
At the voice of a young boy, Wang So-hyeon reflexively moved her hand to her waist. She gasped when she felt the sword that the Sex Demon had ruined, whole and solid in her grip.
"What is this...?"
"You said you wanted to fight with swords, didn't you? So I invited you."
Snap. The boy flicked his fingers. Wang So-hyeon looked the boy up and down and realized he bore a strong resemblance to the Sex Demon who had been about to violate her.
"Are you...?"
"Just as you suspect. However, currently I am simply in the state best optimized for using the sword."
The boy was about the same height as Wang So-hyeon. His appearance was almost effeminate, and Wang So-hyeon swallowed.
"You mean to say... you are that Sex Demon as a child?"
"Everyone was cute when they were young. Weren't you the same?"
"...I'm merely surprised by your politeness! To toy with me like this, you are impertinent!"
"I wasn't toying with you."
Swoosh.
A single sword flew from the bamboo forest and rested in the boy's hand. He moved the sword freely and assumed a posture more textbook than anyone else.
"...! How?!"
"As expected of the Demonic Sword Consort. You recognize the sword art the moment you see it."
"The Seven Absolute Plum Blossom Sword of Mount Hua!"
"Not only that."
A violet energy began to surge around the boy's body. Wang So-hyeon swallowed as the hand gripping her sword trembled pleasantly.
"The Violet Mist Divine Art as well!"
"You wish to discuss the sword? Then defeat me here. I'll face you with the countless sword arts contained within."
The boy tapped his own head with his forefinger.
"This is Heart Sword Spar."
Clang!
The boy thrust his sword forward at blinding speed. Dozens of plum blossoms bloomed in an instant, and Wang So-hyeon instinctively deflected the blade using a martial form.
"...Aah!"
Having fought two Plum Blossom Swordswomen before, she could feel it through the blade. His Seven Absolute Plum Blossom Sword had reached the peak realm and was subtly conveying the sword principle of a Harmony Realm master—no, a Profound Realm master.
"We'll start with Mount Hua. Next will be Zhongnan, then Diancang."
Wang So-hyeon shuddered as a multitude of different sword arts burst from a single body.
"I'll cut out everything below peak level, from the peak realm up to Harmony Realm masters. So, big sister, shall we have a little conversation through our swords?"
At the boy's bright smile, Wang So-hyeon forgot reality altogether.