Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon's Scheme
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The lamp flickered.
From the highest point of the Demon Palace at the center of the Ten Thousand Demons, the Heavenly Demon muttered.
"The Blood Sect isn't everything..."
"Yes. That's what was written."
At the First Demon's report, the Heavenly Demon's face hardened.
She naturally tapped the armrest. The somewhat quick rhythm betrayed her impatience.
Did she know something after all?
The First Demon glanced once more at the letter clutched in her fingertips. The letter the Heavenly Demon had read and returned.
The handwriting was crude. It wasn't beautiful prose, but...
Its value was immeasurable, coming from the one who had pulled it off yet again.
"Red Cloud wrote that he heard it directly after defeating the Blood Sect's young leader."
"...Hmm."
"Do you have some inkling of it, Lord?"
"I'm thinking."
"Thinking...?"
"I say I'm thinking because I am. No other reason."
"You know something."
"Who knows."
The Heavenly Demon trailed off and asked.
"First Demon."
"Yes, Master."
"You are the foremost of the Heaven-Earth Eight Demons, yet you refused to join a sect or found one. Isn't that right?"
"That's correct."
"You refused to meddle in politics and instead chose to take on maintaining our cult's own security. Right?"
"That's also correct."
"You place loyalty to me above all else. That's the path you chose, your way of repaying the grace as you see it. Isn't that so?"
"...Everything you've said is right, but... how...?"
"Then turn off your curiosity."
"Pardon?"
"This isn't for you to stick your nose into. If power holds no interest for you, it's not yours to handle."
"At the very least, can't you tell me what it is?"
"Some things are better known, others better unknown. This falls into the latter."
The Heavenly Demon let out a sigh.
It was a rare sigh.
"This has turned into a hassle. Well... I figured as much... I thought they'd start moving soon..."
"I won't disappoint you, Lord."
"It's not about disappointment; it's about roles. First Demon, you're doing splendidly. No clumsiness in your duties, supporting me perfectly in everything. But that's where your role ends. Having stepped away from power, you bear no responsibility. No responsibility means no room to intervene."
The Heavenly Demon crooked a finger.
The First Demon rose and approached her.
She was suddenly pulled in, her waist embraced. The First Demon stammered.
"L-Lord?"
"Mm. It's been ages since I held you like this. You stubborn thing. To me, of all people. Hey, shouldn't you act cute once in a while? My prized disciple staying so stiff is starting to irk me."
"You're changing the subject..."
"Enough. I already explained everything. You have no need to get involved. Just keep doing what you've been doing. That's all there is to it for you."
The Heavenly Demon wiped her face and grinned.
"That said... that little cutie pulled off another one. Just like a child of mine and you."
"That's an odd way to phrase it..."
"It's not wrong, is it? I picked him up, you raised him. A child between us. Or hmm, want to make it real? Shame, I don't have a rod for that..."
"Lord!"
"Fine, fine. Geez. No fun teasing you. A puppy would've just blushed without a peep."
"...Did you tease Red Cloud like that too?"
"...Ahem! Anyway, he wrapped things up neatly, and the report shows he exceeded my expectations yet again. Frankly, it's genius territory. That talent reaching the Hwagyeong at his age? Absurd. Maybe I should wander the jianghu scooping up strays?"
"The cult doesn't run without you, Lord. I don't think anyone else could pull it off anyway."
"True enough. Only someone with resolve firmer than anyone's could manage such feats. Let me see... Not much time left for me as Heavenly Demon. So I ought to wield power while I have it. Plenty involved in this mess... and the one who blocked the Blood Tribulation firsthand, plus our three supporting pillars are tangled up too..."
The Heavenly Demon crooked her finger again.
"Best to summon them all and praise their merits. Smooth over relations, call every sect leader and pat their heads while I'm at it."
"...Not wrong, but... it's a touchy time. Gathering them in one place could be risky, no?"
"What worry? I am the Heavenly Demon."
The Heavenly Demon.
At that weight, she nodded. Indeed, she had every right to say it.
"I'll arrange the gathering."
"Love the quick reply. See why I treasure my Blood Slaughter Captain."
"I'm embarrassed."
"Embarrassed my foot. And I'll borrow Red Cloud for a bit this time."
"...Pardon?"
"As my personal guard, face hidden-it'll paint quite the picture. Fun one."
".......?"
The First Demon looked down at the Heavenly Demon.
An inscrutable expression. But after so long by her side, protecting her, the First Demon knew what it meant.
Mischief and curiosity.
"...Planning to toy with them?"
"Those brats think they're all grown up, that they know every card I hold. But what if a mystery close guard with a hidden identity pops up right in the thick of it? They'll have bizarre reactions. Suspecting each other as plants left and right. Heh heh. Especially that Ten Thousand Demons Sect Leader... his face'll be priceless!"
"Big risk of Red Cloud's double-agent identity getting exposed."
"No such risk. After this event, Red Cloud vanishes into the righteous faction."
"...You mean..."
"Things are about ready, so shouldn't we set off? Gotta tidy up before I fully step down from the Heavenly Demon seat..."
The Heavenly Demon grinned.
"This'll be a merit ceremony and Red Cloud's send-off rolled into one. Calling it his true double-agent debut from here on wouldn't be exaggeration."
...
I drew the Ghost Sword. I heard White Night's cry, now closer to a grinding roar.
The sword in my grip felt different from before. Much had changed...
A completely alien sensation.
"...Whew."
I steadied my breath. I checked what I'd gained amid the rippling qi.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Fifth Form
Blood Shadow Twin Flowers
Imbue intent into qi. That's why it's called Will-Form Qi.
But what exactly is that intent?
First, solidify the intent.
Second, draw the form from that intent.
Third, infuse it into the qi. Hence, Will-Form Qi.
The stage before wielding the Heart Sword. That's Will-Form Qi.
The gateway where the sword's form begins settling into the qi. For example...
The Hwatian Fist Demon, trained in Hwatian Explosive Fist-his fists burned fierce. Even his qi popped and burst, erupting with volcanic might.
What of Guchon Oknyeo? No telling her exact sword, but everything cloaking her body flowed like mist. The chill killing intent within was silent death.
And Blood Slaughter Yeonhyang? Details unknown, but her qi itself weighed heavy enough to sever a Blood Killer's neck. She alone among the three had clashed directly with one.
Plain qi is potent too. Clashing with it shreds sword qi every which way.
But qi with intent is something else. Like bearing human aspiration, the qi itself takes form.
The form of strength its wielder yearns for.
A volcano, like the Hwatian Fist Demon.
Mist, like Guchon Oknyeo.
Mount Tai, like Yeonhyang.
How does mine compare?
"......"
I switched hands on the sword grip. At the tip of the slowly rising qi, I unfolded it.
An outline took shape amid the rippling energy. An intent I could now firmly engrave.
The intent matched what I'd guessed.
My life itself.
The endless repetition of striving days.
The vow not to break, even if crumbling...
Traces of my second life.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Fifth Form
Blood Shadow Twin Flowers - Ten Thousand Piercing
A blood-shadow beast with four eyes wrapped my back in an instant.
Four swords.
Four energies.
Heavenly Tribulation rampaging between them. A day's repetition binding it all.
The beast's fangs coating the sword tip pierced the training ground. Exploding wind devoured everything around.
Scattering sweat droplets. Amid them, I felt certain.
That I had truly entered the Hwagyeong.
"...Whew."
The First Demon had warned me not to get arrogant, time and again.
So I wouldn't. But the qi rampaging wildly inside me left no doubt.
Crossing the wall had enlarged my vessel. The already frenzied Heavenly Tribulation flipped in joy.
Now beyond mere lodging-it had fully nested within me. To the point I couldn't tell if I was the Heavenly Tribulation or it was me.
Doubting it was even the same beast that had hated and bitten me at first.
Even anomalies stirred in my dantian qi.
The blood qi built by Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.
The cold qi drawable from Ghost Sword White Night.
The fire qi from Ghost Sword Black Day, untouched still.
Even the magic qi from Ghost Sword Guming, unidentified and unresponsive till now.
These energies, once merely accommodated, now piled up alongside whenever I circulated the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.
During circulation, the Heavenly Tribulation would rouse my body, drawing in what it needed from nature's qi, perhaps.
Thus, without special effort, the four balanced and grew. The weak surged fast, the strong a bit slower.
Was this the Heavenly Tribulation's true function?
Questions abounded. Unsolvable now, so I'd have to ask the Heavenly Demon separately.
I sheathed the sword. Watching Yeon Miryeong clapped lightly.
"Amazing, Brother Mu."
"Thank you, Miss Yeon."
"Call me Miryeong. And drop the formalities."
For rehab, limping Yeon Miryeong hugged me tight. I gently created distance.
"...Brother Mu?"
"Worried about the sweat smell..."
"No bad smell. More like... odorless."
I lifted my arm and sniffed. Perhaps entering Hwagyeong purged all impurities.
No real body odor. Just faint grass scent remained. Even the sweat.
"Nice smell."
"Still sticky."
"When will you drop the formalities?"
She clung to me unusually well. Perhaps from having no one else to lean on.
But I hesitated to casually drop them for a reason.
Gokcheong, whom I'd felled. I'd pitied, even briefly, the man who'd slaughtered her family.
Was I fit to grow close to her?
"Well... not sure."
"...If that's what Brother Mu wants... no choice..."
Her shoulders visibly slumped, and I sighed. After wiping down with the nearby towel, I hoisted Yeon Miryeong onto my shoulders.
"Eek?!"
"This'll do for now, Miss Yeon."
"......."
Yeon Miryeong gazed ahead from my shoulders. A small hand fidgeted atop my hair.
"...At least call me by name?"
That much...
Should be fine.
"Miryyeong."
"Yes, Brother Mu."
"Plans going forward?"
"...Arranged for protection under Rakchal Sect. Grateful-my godfather promised to watch over me."
"Godfather... the Hwatian Fist Demon elder?"
"Yes. He told me to call him that... Though I have no memory of meeting him."
"Good man. You can count on him, Miryeong."
"Probably..."
Yeon Miryeong hugged my head.
"And Brother Mu?"
"Heading back to the Demon Palace first. Came from there, so natural to return."
"Then our paths match. Lucky."
"You too?"
"Ah, didn't hear? Morning word: all who earned merits in this head to Demon Palace. Heavenly Demon granting praises personally."
"The Heavenly Demon?"
I gently gripped her legs to keep her steady.
"Path won't be dull at least."
"Not splitting from Brother Mu-great."
"Why so attached...?"
"You avenged my grudge. Thank you. Truly."
"I don't deserve such praise."
"Why?"
"I..."
I swallowed the rest. Voicing it might wound her, so I changed tack.
"Sky's darkening. Let's head back, Miryeong."
"Little longer?"
"Cold body risks catching something. Health's improving, so best not overdo. Godfather's here right on time."
The watching Hwatian Fist Demon waved from afar. I bowed in return.
"We'll talk more tomorrow. Rest up."
"...Okay. Don't push yourself, Brother Mu."
Yeon Miryeong departed. I sat eyes closed atop the now-quiet training ground.
I pictured Gokcheong in my mind. Not out of pity.
That final Heart Sword I'd glimpsed. It was unmistakably...
Not something blockable, even half-baked. Nearing Heart Instant Kill.
Boundless inner power.
A realm turning power near-infinite.
Only the body's limits could counter it. Even channeling heaven-earth principles, if the flesh couldn't endure, all would crumble.
...Thus, having witnessed it, I must advance differently.
Not like him. No rushing. Aim to complete the vessel step by step.
One step at a time. White Night's murmurs had quieted just in time...
Now the moment to draw Black Day...
"Red Cloud."
A whisper settled over the empty training ground. I turned.
A veiled woman approached. Her light steps-I recognized them instantly.
"Danhwa?"
"Wanted to show you first. So..."
Black Orchid touched her veil.
"See it first. With your eyes."