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The gateway leading into Hubei Province.
Countless masters, including the Lust-Exorcising Abbess of the Emei Sect, had gathered in one place and formed a blockade, sealing off the main road.
Though they barred even ordinary people from passing, causing great inconvenience, the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction who blocked the way were figures even common folk feared and shunned.
"The Blade Demon, the Bandit Demon, and the Illusion Demon."
Facing masters who were either her equals or far stronger than herself, the Lust-Exorcising Abbess swallowed hard. Even if sect leaders had gathered, their opponents were three of the Demonic Cult's top ten elites, assembled in one place.
All for the sake of protecting a single girl.
"Please, open the way."
The black-haired, red-eyed woman who received protection greater than a princess, the Little Princess, bowed deeply at the waist as she greeted them. To any casual observer, the Demonic Cult Little Princess bowing to Orthodox Faction martial artists seemed like a humiliation for the demons, but the demons observing etiquette only infuriated the orthodox warriors more.
"I am here because I received a formal invitation from the Alliance, you see?"
"......That has yet to be confirmed."
The Lust-Exorcising Abbess stubbornly blocked their entry. And inwardly, she cursed both the Murim Alliance Leader and the Little Princess to the pits of hell.
'The bastard who invited her is insane, and the bitch who actually showed up is just as crazy!'
In accordance with the principle that Righteous, Evil, and Demonic factions should gather and compete through martial arts rather than fight, invitations were naturally sent to the Demonic Cult every time.
But the Demonic Cult had never once officially accepted. The Orthodox Faction martial artists were certain that, as always, registration would close without incident—until the Little Princess appeared in Hubei Province just one day before the deadline.
"I understand that if the application isn't submitted by tomorrow, participation is impossible... Lady Lust-Exorcising Abbess, wouldn't it be acceptable to clear the path for now and disqualify them later if any issues arise?"
"Hmm...."
The logic was sound. But the mouth delivering that sound logic was utterly disagreeable. Beside the Little Princess, a long-haired, narrow-eyed man with a slouching posture was making his case with an insolent stance.
"What do you say, Lust-Exorcising Abbess? Considering both sides' need to save face, it's not a bad offer."
"Bandit Demon, are you telling me to trust the words coming out of your mouth?"
"Haha. When have you ever seen me lie to you?"
"I've seen it so often I can't even believe what you're saying now. The Heavenly Demon's direct disciple and the Flying Heaven Three Demons will simply compete in the tournament and then leave quietly?"
The number of sects the Blade Demon, Bandit Demon, and Illusion Demon had toppled on their own exceeded a hundred. The Blade Demon in particular, who delighted in life-and-death duels with Orthodox Faction warriors, had accrued so much bad karma that roughly two in ten of the Rising Stars here for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering were his sworn enemies.
Bringing four ticking Thunderclap Bombs into Wudang Sect territory, the heart of Hubei Province?
It was absolutely unthinkable. Though the Lust-Exorcising Abbess and the other Orthodox Faction warriors knew their actions were unreasonable and contrary to the spirit of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, they refused to back down.
'But something's strange.'
The aura emanating from the Flying Heaven Three Demons was far from ordinary. Even though the three of them could easily sweep aside everyone blocking the entrance, they remained on high alert, wary of something.
Almost as if they were waiting for someone's permission.
"Everyone, please withdraw your qi."
From between the people parting to the left and right, Taoist Hyeonta appeared, his gray robes billowing. At the arrival of the one who could be considered the representative of Wudang in charge of the proceedings, everyone's expressions filled with relief.
Transcending the divide between righteous and demonic, even an invited guest had to turn back if the master of the house refused them. After all, it was the Murim Alliance, not the Wudang Sect, that had sent the invitation to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"Wudang does not desire a major disturbance. We merely wish for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering to conclude peacefully."
At Hyeonta's words, everyone frowned. The Orthodox Faction had never imagined that Wudang would allow demons to enter their mountain, and the same was true for the demons themselves.
"This Taoist fellow is more flexible-minded than I expected."
"Haha, are you truly letting us in? I was sure you'd allow only one to enter and order the other two to wait outside."
"......Bear in mind that you are being watched from the Heaven Beyond Heaven."
At Hyeonta's quiet words, the expressions of the Flying Heaven Three Demons shifted.
The Blade Demon grinned, his fighting spirit rising. The Bandit Demon chuckled awkwardly and turned his head toward the Little Princess. The Illusion Demon looked up at the sky and tilted his head.
"Who's watching, he says?"
"...Old-timer, have some dignity."
"Don't know a thing about that!"
"Damn, I was wondering how we'd ever shake off this senile old bastard."
While the Flying Heaven Three Demons grumbled among themselves, the Orthodox Faction warriors turned their frowns on Taoist Hyeonta.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"What meaning? They are people too; surely they wouldn't abandon their conscience."
"Does Taoist Hyeonta trust demons? Does the Wudang Sect trust the Demonic Cult?"
"I trust Wudang's strength. Even if they were to run wild, we could subdue them simultaneously."
Taoist Hyeonta spoke with deliberate force. The Flying Heaven Three Demons smirked and clenched their fists, but they couldn't outright deny Taoist Hyeonta's claim.
Heaven Beyond Heaven.
A realm of the Profound Realm, a state that even masters who have transcended the Peak Realm to reach the Harmony Realm cannot dare covet.
A being possessing an immense aura that only the Flying Heaven Three Demons could sense was glaring down at them from the mountain. In effect, Taoist Hyeonta was an envoy dispatched by that unidentified super-master, and the demons had been 'granted permission' to enter the mountain by the master of Wudang.
"Fufu, let us enter, then. Taoist, as I believe we should still pay our respects to the Sect Leader, would you guide us up the mountain?"
"Gladly. Follow me, Little Princess."
Hyeonta's movements were brimming with confidence. Many orthodox martial artists gaped in astonishment as he turned his back on three demons, and they were shocked once more as the Little Princess and the Flying Heaven Three Demons followed behind him without incident.
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering; the Heavenly Demon Cult joins.
News began to spread from mouth to mouth in earnest.
* * *
"Elders, why have you been so still since earlier?"
The Little Princess felt a sense of bewilderment toward the three Demonic Heads who hadn't caused a commotion—or, in vulgar terms, hadn't kicked up a shit-storm. She had brought the three most powerful Demonic Heads among her supporters, yet both the Blade Demon and Bandit Demon merely watched the Illusion Demon's mood and did nothing.
"You should ask that senile old man, Little Princess."
"Ke-ke-ke. If we'd acted up back there, we'd all be heading for a beheading, I tell you, a beheading."
The Illusion Demon drew a line across his throat with his hand and pointed into the crowd. Amidst the countless people mingling, the Illusion Demon's eyes were fixed intently on a particular spot.
"The world is vast. I thought all those Wudang cult bastards were dead and gone, but where in the hell did a madman like that pop out from?"
"Wha—, Elder Illusion Demon?"
"Little Princess, be careful. The most terrifying figures in Murim are the ones 'just passing by,' the Hidden Hermits."
Rustle.
The Illusion Demon raised his hand and pinched the air near the Little Princess's neck with his fingers. The internal qi focused at his fingertips crackled and sparked like an electric current, and soon, something thin and transparent began to glint in the sunlight.
"A needle?"
"A very fine needle. The problem is, just a moment ago, one of these was about to be embedded in each of our necks. Taoist over there, are you listening? We truly intend only to see the Little Princess through the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and then leave. I stake my name as the Illusion Demon on it."
Patter.
At the Illusion Demon's muttered words to the empty air, the needle dropped to the ground. The Blade Demon and Bandit Demon rubbed their necks and shuddered, while the Little Princess swallowed hard, feeling a chill of terror.
"Wha—what on earth is that?"
"The Taiji Wisdom Sword."
"This is insane."
"Ha... tch. Little Princess. Can't I just start a Killing Calamity and fight? I'd love to cross blades with a grandmaster of the Taiji Wisdom Sword."
The Blade Demon's fighting spirit flared as he rested a hand on his sword, but the Little Princess shook her head firmly.
"You may not. Later, when I ascend to the position of Heavenly Demon, I'll let you fight to your heart's content."
"Tch, and what if that fellow achieves Ascension in the meantime?"
"Then I'll arrange for you to fight a being of comparable stature. Elder Illusion Demon, how does that person compare to my father?"
"...At present, the Heavenly Demon is stronger. However."
The Illusion Demon shuddered.
"It's a blessing he's a Taoist who will soon die of old age. If he grows any further...."
The Illusion Demon swallowed the rest of his words, and the Little Princess nodded gravely.
"As expected, the Central Plains are vast.... Good, this only fuels my fire."
The Little Princess clenched her fist tightly.
"I too shall become strong and make my name resound throughout the world. ...Oh my?"
Within the crowd, an ordinary-looking woman disappeared along with a beautiful young boy. The Little Princess licked her lips and smiled.
"That person...."
The Little Princess stared for a long time in the direction the two had vanished.
* * *
"Gyeon-hui, how is it? Do you think you could win if you fought her?"
"...I don't know."
I had brought Sagong Hee to observe the Demonic Cult Little Princess from a distance. A martial artist needs the discernment to instantly grasp whether an opponent is stronger or weaker, and Sagong Hee failed to gauge the Little Princess's skill.
"Over there is a woman who looks stronger than you. And she's conveniently around the same age. Or wait, are you two years older?"
"...I've only trained in martial arts for about a year, but she has been training since birth."
She flared up the moment I pricked her pride. Having only seen Rising Stars weaker than herself over the past few days, Sagong Hee's fists trembled at the realization that a woman of her own age had reached a realm she couldn't even dare to confirm.
"Gyeon-hui, what did I say were the circumstances when you can't perceive an opponent's skill?"
"Just as the peak of a towering mountain cannot be seen with the human eye, it means the opponent is someone my discernment cannot even dare to gauge."
"Correct. But there are exceptions. Those who learn the Heavenly Demon's martial arts are all like that."
"......What?"
"The only way to know if the Little Princess is weaker or stronger than you is to fight her directly. I can see the outcome, but I don't feel like telling you. Heh heh."
If I had to give the answer, it would be an even match.
—If the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Taiji Wisdom Sword clash, who will win!
'If the Heavenly Demon and the Taiji Sword Empress fought, that'd be one thing, but the Little Princess and Sagong Hee are a different story.'
In terms of internal energy level and martial achievement, Sagong Hee is far higher, but the Little Princess is someone with experience killing people. She might win in a tournament match, but in a life-and-death duel, she would definitely lose. So it was hard to say one side would win decisively.
"To truly determine victory and defeat, you'll first have to enter the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering."
"......."
"Think about whether you'll participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering or not. If you just give your application to Hyeonta by tomorrow evening, he'll take care of the preparations for you."
"The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is...."
Sagong Hee is still hesitating greatly about competing. There are several reasons, but the biggest one is that once she reveals herself, the time we can spend together will decrease significantly.
"If I compete... that means the time I can be with you, my lord, will decrease that much."
'How commendable that she wants to stay with me all the time.'
Through the reward of learning martial arts, the pleasure of nightly activities, and learning various wisdoms of life from me as a woman, she feels a sense of accomplishment both as a woman and a human being. It was clear she felt that if she earned an epithet and formally stepped into the Murim, her time with me would diminish accordingly.
"My lord, you haven't grown tired of me, have you? I... can do better."
'Or else she's trying to hold me back with her body so I can't go anywhere.'
A flower is a plant; it cannot wander like an animal. Sagong Bok-hee is terrified that I might leave her side, and she worries that while she becomes one of the Six Phoenixes, I might silently disappear.
"Surely you're not... planning to leave me at Wudang, thinking I've become a burden to you, my lord?"
'Quick-witted thing.'
I had meant to get my hands on the Flower Directory, set her up with a proper epithet and position at Wudang, and then go roaming the world, plucking one flower after another—but with Sagong Hee holding my member in a death grip, there was no sign I could leave.
'I need to soothe her properly.'
At the very least, I had to mold her into a woman who would preserve her chastity toward me even if I roamed around outside for months—no, for years on end.
'I can't stand the sight of another man eating what I've painstakingly raised to be so beautiful.'
To claim many women, I must travel the world. But if I drag Sagong Hee around with me, she'll be watching me in many ways, and I won't be able to act as I please.
Was there no good way?
"My lord, why do you keep trying to make me participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?"
The reason I'm specifically pushing Sagong Hee into the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is simple.
'So you can go turn your opponents into bloody pulps!'
So that I can treat them at the clinic afterward.
Just as I was about to shout that out loud.
"Kyaaaah!!"
Along with the coppery scent of blood, a woman's scream rang out. I spread my Qi Sense to assess the situation in the direction the sound came from.
"......A woman is hurt!! I must go and light Sleep Incense!!"
I scooped up Sagong Hee and flew toward the clinic. As I soothed Sagong Hee, who was clinging tightly to me and refusing to let go, I whispered to her in a warm voice.
"Hee, don't worry. How could I ever abandon you and leave?"
I'm only going on a short trip.
"My lord, I am uneasy. I'm afraid you might suddenly leave...."
"Shall I offer you some kind of proof?"
"......Give me undeniable proof that I belong to you, my lord. Right here."
Sagong Hee rubbed her lower abdomen against my back, and I immediately threw her into the bushes.
"Ha, dammit. I was already holding back my arousal because of Hyeonta, and you have the nerve to say something like that?"
"...M-my lord. Not now, later.... It seems like someone is dying over there right now...."
"Since my member feels like it's about to burst and kill me, I am the more urgent patient."
I'm so horny I could die. Whether screams echoed in the distance or not, I first pounced on Sagong Hee into the bushes.
"And don't worry. About that injured flower over there...."
Squelch.
I thrust my manhood into Sagong Hee's embrace and held my breath.
"She's heading this way."
The bleeding woman was running straight toward us.