Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Crushed by the Luri I Invited Myself (3)
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Cheon Luri dragged me off without a single word, clutching the hem of my precious attachment robe in a death grip.
Her footsteps came to a halt in a quiet alley devoid of any signs of life.
Only then.
"You, where?"
I'd already grown used to Luri-style questions.
"I'm heading to the Tang Family in Sichuan."
"……."
Luri's expression turned gloomy.
"You?"
"Me, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
She was in the same class as Moyong Taek, huh.
Then again, the idea of the young cult leader of the demonic cult heading to the orthodox factions for a mission was too outlandish even for a stray dog to dream up.
Truly a vacation in every sense.
I'm jealous......
"You, come too."
"?"
"Come together."
Luri started throwing a tantrum.
I tried to spy an opening to escape, slipping my robe hem from her grasp.
Riiip......!
She was gripping it so hard.
At the faint tearing sound from my thousand-gold robe, I gave up resisting.
I couldn't bear to send another attachment robe to its doom......!
With a sigh, I crouched down to meet eye level with child Luri.
"The demonic cult...... I'd love to visit the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult someday, but I have to complete my mission first. Unlike you, I can only stay at the academy by fulfilling my assignment."
Even after my kind explanation, Luri's face showed no sign of brightening.
Become someone the demonic cult's strongest warrior and heir were obsessed with?
Was I that perfectly suited for the demonic cult?
"Still......"
"It's only temporary anyway. We'll see each other back at the academy soon enough. And if I have time, I could even drop by the cult for a visit."
"Really? You'll come?"
As if.
The moment I arrived, I'd get swept into some express demonic corruption course prepared by her father, volunteer for the suicide squad, and end up hunting oni or whatever.
......But seeing Luri's face suddenly bloom with joy, it felt a bit harsh to dash her hopes again.
I nodded silently.
I hadn't given a firm promise.
Only then did Luri's small hand rise to my head, ruffling my carefully styled hair every which way.
The demonic cult's future looked bleak.
This little kid becoming the cult leader?
From that day on, the entire cult would turn into a candy cane-scented sugar factory.
Instead of a suicide squad, they'd form a beekeeping unit, tormenting poor bees every day with, "Hey, bumblebee, why are you crying?" while exploiting their honey.
She might even launch a crusade to the West, import cacao beans, and build a chocolate factory.
Not a bad idea.
Way better than petty squabbles over some righteous-demonic war......
"Hmph."
Maybe she noticed my wandering thoughts.
Luri balled her tiny fist and delivered a cute Heavenly Demon punch to my head.
And then.
"Training."
"Huh?"
"Help me."
"Me?"
"Promise."
"Did I? ......Y-Yeah, sure, just ease up on the internal energy in that fist......?"
I tried to play dumb.
But seeing the bean-sized punches evolve into full-power 500x Heavenly Demon punches, I hurriedly switched tactics.
Come to think of it, I did vaguely promise something like that......
Whatever.
Thinking I wouldn't see her for a while made it a bit bittersweet, so why not grant one last favor.
* * *
The deepest part of the personal training hall.
A place Cheon Luri always sought out whenever she needed to circulate qi due to her martial arts' nature or deliberately emit internal energy.
Or when she wanted no one near, like during mind-image sword debates.
But today, she wasn't alone.
Dragging along Geum Sihyeon, who wore an utterly bored expression.
Cheon Luri revealed her personal sanctuary.
It wasn't the first time, actually.
She'd accidentally let him glimpse it once before.
But it was vastly different now.
"......Wow."
Gazing at the walls etched with countless large and small pikapings, Geum Sihyeon let out an exclamation.
His true thought was, "What is this...... What kind of demon have I summoned......?"
But to Luri's ears, it was pure admiration.
"Hee."
She puffed out her nonexistent chest with pride, beaming triumphantly.
"Do it quick. Lots to greet."
At those words shattering her sentiment to pieces.
Pop!
"Ouch."
Luri unleashed the Heavenly Demon Phantom Fist.
Also known as the Heavenly Demon Punch or Luri's secret ultimate barrage.
Forcing Geum Sihyeon to submit.
"Get ready."
Her cheeks puffed out a bit in a pout.
Swish.
She slipped off the robe precariously draped over her shoulders.
Carefully removing the specially made garment that suppressed her demonic qi, Cheon Luri gazed intently at Geum Sihyeon's face.
"Hee."
Seeing his desperately averted eyes squeezed shut, she couldn't hold back a giggle.
When had it started?
This feeling of delight from his gaze that saw her, even slightly, as a woman.
Through her senses, she could clearly feel his heart pounding roughly: thump, thump.
But fortunately, no reaction to her demonic qi.
So she could entrust her body to him without worry.
No peeking, no sneaky glances.
Focusing her gaze on him lest he crack an eye open, Luri slowly released her demonic qi while prancing about.
Even as the entire space thickened with demonic qi, as if severed from the mortal world.
Geum Sihyeon might wear an uneasy expression, but his internal energy remained calmly stable.
"How long do I have to wait?"
She wanted to tease him more.
But there would be plenty of chances ahead.
He'd even promised to visit her at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
With a relaxed mind, Luri sat cross-legged.
"All set."
She heard Geum Sihyeon draw a slight breath.
She wanted to turn and see his face right then.
But if she did, he might bolt.
It wasn't just an excuse to lure him; after battling those jiangshi before, her body had started destabilizing rapidly.
She could have endured and returned to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for her mother's help.
She understood it might pose a risk to him too.
And yet.
Excluding her mother.
This man was the only one in the world who could accept her.
And, a vague hope.
Someday.
Only this man──Geum Sihyeon.
Could free her from this curse.
Clinging to that conviction.
"......Thanks."
She conveyed her heartfelt gratitude.
"No need to thank me. Your qi kept rampaging like that, and you held out in this state...... What do I need to do?"
Gruff tone, but laced with genuine concern. Luri's lips curved up slightly.
"Hand."
There was a bit of resistance.
But his sturdy, large hand settled over the demon-sealing curse technique blooming on her back.
At the human warmth felt after so long, not from her hands, Luri shuddered.
"What, does it hurt?"
"I'm fine."
Soon, Luri began gradually releasing the demonic qi she'd been forcibly suppressing.
No explanations needed.
Her body was like an endless spring gushing water.
But conventional methods──
wielding martial arts to expend it could never match the generation rate.
Two options.
Rampage until she lost reason, incinerating everything around to ash.
Or transfer it to someone who could serve as a "vessel."
Having sparred with him and grasped the source of his martial arts, Luri realized he could be that vessel.
She'd stop immediately if he showed any pain.
"Hooo......"
His breathing stayed steady even absorbing the demonic qi.
No cause for worry.
Even feeling his pure qi flowing into her from his palm, refreshing her body all the faster.
Luri smiled, closed her eyes, and focused.
An hour later.
"Done."
The persistent poking headaches.
The unidentified whispers echoing occasionally.
Even the hallucinations flickering before her eyes──all vanished cleanly.
The refreshed feeling of rebirth made Luri's lips curve even higher.
"Good work. Put your clothes on first and......"
Hearing Geum Sihyeon's voice tinged with slight fatigue.
Luri decided to repay him in her own way.
"H-Hey......!"
She whirled around and hugged him tight.
Geum Sihyeon froze in utter bewilderment, eyes squeezed shut, even covering them with his palm.
A twinge of annoyance, but irrelevant.
With one arm effectively sealed, subduing him was easier.
She toppled the exposed Geum Sihyeon, straddled him, and licked her lips lightly.
Right after.
Burying her face in his neck.
"Aaack!"
She sank her teeth into his neck.
The moment she tasted the faint metallic tang of blood through the tiny gap.
Luri pressed her tongue close and drew up her qi.
A technique passed only to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's leader.
The Soul Linking Technique's bond transcended flesh, linking essences in an instant, forging a powerful tie.
A kiss would have been surer.
But Luri lacked that courage yet.
After infusing part of her soul into him.
Luri slowly withdrew her mouth, lifted her head, and observed his face.
Seeing him still with eyes tightly shut, teeth gritted.
"Heh."
Luri's smile bloomed so brightly, even she wondered if her lips could curve that high.
* * *
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Two hours after Luri-clan forcibly sank her fangs into my neck.
Suddenly, things I shouldn't see started appearing.