Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: The Deal
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Perhaps the Heavenly Demon had already put in a word for me, because I was quickly escorted right to her.
Yeo Sochen, who had come along with me, drew wary eyes due to her strikingly distinctive appearance giving away her identity. But as if she'd received a mental transmission from the Heavenly Demon herself, the guards backed off, allowing her to follow as well.
Only I had permission to enter the Heavenly Demon's private chambers, though, so Yeo Sochen was made to wait in the room next door.
"It's hardly been long enough to call it 'long time no see.' I didn't expect you'd come find me quite this soon."
In the end, I found myself alone with the Heavenly Demon in her room once more.
"I recall the deadline being a full half-year away. You're in quite the rush. Not that I'm complaining, but has something happened?"
"...What reason does a friend need to visit a friend?"
"Hmmm..."
The Heavenly Demon covered her mouth with her hand as she let out a soft chuckle at my words.
"Didn't I tell you I despise lies?"
The air around us plunged into icy depths in an instant. 'W-what the hell.' Come to think of it, she'd said she hated lies the last time I'd visited. I'd completely forgotten. She already knew I'd lied about calling myself ugly and about seeing things in the heavenly secrets. And now I'd gone and lied again. She'd even threatened that it was my last chance, but here I was stepping right into a trap from the start...
"Well, it wasn't something I hated hearing, so I'll chalk it up to social graces. No need to look so terrified." ...Luckily, she seemed willing to let it slide this time. 'Whew...' I'd nearly doomed myself before even saying a word. Honestly, if even basic small talk counted as lying, how was anyone supposed to function? Good thing she had some flexibility—at least that's what I'd have to assume going forward.
"So. What brings you here? I figured you'd wait until the very last day." ...No point beating around the bush and risking another slip-up like that. Time to be straightforward.
"...There's something I'd like your help with."
"Oh?"
"My Master collapsed recently after battling the Blood Cult..."
From there, I explained the situation to her. My Master had been tainted by demonic energy, and since she was particularly vulnerable to such corruption, if we couldn't separate it from her, her life was in grave danger. The method I'd found to draw out the demonic energy afflicting her relied on its tendency to be drawn to something even greater.
"So, I just need to draw out the demonic energy that's invaded your Master?"
"...Yes."
"That's hardly difficult. As you said, demonic energy is inevitably pulled toward something stronger. I can manage that much."
Fortunate, I suppose. The Heavenly Demon was already aware of that trait. With that settled, the conversation should flow more smoothly...
"Then you must have some terms for the deal."
"..."
It's fine. I saw this coming. Nothing comes free in this world. It might even be better this way—being upfront about it instead of pulling the 'we're friends' card and hoping for a handout. I'd braced myself for this anyway. ...Still, it'd be nice if we could resolve it without going as far as what I'd prepared...
"...Money's no good, I take it."
"Do I look so destitute that I'd need to stir myself for gold?"
"...Just testing the waters."
I hadn't really expected that to work anyway. She probably wouldn't budge a step outside this room even for a fortune. Next up was liquor—something I could confidently say piqued her interest.
"What about rare liquor?"
"If you can procure something I've never tasted before, I might consider it. But can you? I don't venture out, but I've sampled nearly every famed brew stockpiled in the Divine Cult's vaults long ago."
"...No."
I hadn't banked on that one either. I might find something if I scoured the entire Central Plains, but there was no guarantee I'd do it before my Master was fully consumed. Which left...
"Let's make this your last probe."
"...Pardon?"
"Why so surprised? Does a merchant endlessly entertain offers? Three tries is plenty fair. Especially since I'm no merchant."
"Ah..."
She shifted from her reclined position, propping her chin on her hand as she leaned forward. A gesture that screamed she'd flop right over if talks went nowhere. She'd seen right through my half-hearted stabs in the dark. Or maybe her patience had simply run dry. I steeled myself and prepared to lay out the bargaining chip I'd readied from the start.
"..."
Even though I'd resolved myself before coming, the words wouldn't come easily. I pried my mouth open, but all that emerged was a faint "ah."
Anything more felt blocked, words dying in my throat.
"Why hesitate so? You must know what I want by now."
"I..."
But my block lasted only a moment.
"Don't you need to save your Master?"
I flinched. My hands clenched tight on my knees. I drew a deep breath.
"...........I offer myself."
Those words finally escaped me. That single short phrase felt like an eternity to utter. Each syllable wrung screams from my body, begging me to stop. Only after the final sound faded did exhaustion crash over me, strength draining away. Spilled words can't be recanted.
"...Oh?"
The Heavenly Demon's intrigued expression made my body twitch involuntarily, but crumbling now would ruin everything. I forced steel into my buckling frame.
"What do you mean by 'offering yourself'?"
"..."
She wore that knowing look, yet feigned ignorance all the same. Fine. I'd come this far. No retreating now.
"...Exactly that."
I pulled back the hood of my cloak, revealing my face, then stretched my arms forward and prostrated myself on the floor.
"If you command divinations for the Divine Cult, I'll divine. If you need a drinking companion, I'll drink with you. And..."
"And?"
"...If you desire my body, I'll give it as you wish."
My body shuddered uncontrollably. I knew it. This was me crawling into my own grave. But I had no choice. Only by entering that grave could I save my Master. My flesh already wailed in dread of what awaited, but I crushed its rebellion. Letting my body dictate terms here helped no one.
"In other words, do with you as I please."
"...Yes."
Somewhere deep inside, a voice screamed to say no—even now—but I shoved it down. And whether this counted as fortunate, I couldn't say.
"I'm curious why you held back such a splendid offer and wasted time on those paltry first two."
The Heavenly Demon clearly approved of this proposal. Her face lit up with rare, genuine delight.
"...What say you?"
"Very well. I accept the deal. Now, where is this Master of yours? One of those women from before? If so, we'll need to head to Shaanxi..."
"No need for the Divine Cult's Sovereign to move personally. Just bless this orb."
"Hm?"
I handed her my Master's fox pearl as she rose, apparently intent on treating her right away.
"...This orb?"
"It's like a part of her very soul. Purge the demonic energy here, and she'll recover her strength. Bringing her all the way here would be too taxing—this place is so remote..."
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon took the orb from me and examined it closely from every angle. I got why. It was so exquisitely beautiful that I'd toyed with it endlessly back in the mountains...
"Its color threw me off at first, but this is the same orb you showed me before. I mistook it for a Night-Luminous Pearl then, but it belongs to your Master."
"...Ah. Yes. That's right."
Come to think of it, I'd shown it to her already. This very orb had pulled me into the heavenly secrets, sparking all that chaos. '...' Cold sweat beaded down my back at the memory. Thinking how I might never have escaped still sent chills up my spine.
"Hmm... The blue is the original energy within the orb, and the dark crimson is the corruption?"
"Yes."
"I didn't notice before, but the energy sealed inside is remarkably pure—and vast. How much power is packed into this tiny thing..."
I startled at her words, staring at her face. Right—this was my Master's fox pearl, infused with the energy she'd cultivated. A nine-tailed fox's thousand years of accumulation. What cultivator wouldn't covet that? Especially one from a demonic cult that revered strength. She inhaled sharply. A soft hiss, and it was done.
"There. Take it."
"Eh?"
She tossed the orb back to me as if it were nothing.
The dark taint I'd fretted over vanished in moments.