Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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"Puhuhu! Sis! Can't you take off your mask just once? Your face under there must be a work of art!"
"Shut up."
"First time I've seen you talk like that, sis."
"It's the Cult Leader's order."
"Wasn't there a bit of personal interest mixed in?"
"I told you to shut up."
The First Demon growled. The Fourth Demon shrugged his shoulders.
"The situation itself is amusing, but unfortunately, I'm not that bold. You know that, sis. I'm not crazy enough to go after the Cult Leader's things. No matter how tempting, I don't forget my limits, do I?"
"......"
"I'm here to recruit Number 20 who took down White Teacher. The Blood Demon Squad may be yours, sis, but if you think about it, it belongs to all of the Heaven and Earth Eight Demons, doesn't it?"
"Bullshit."
"Sis, just yield a little. I'm not here to take your pet dog. Number 20 is more than enough talent for you, isn't she?"
The Fourth Demon leaned his body sideways.
"The sect leader of the Black Snake Clan has stepped up like this, so give me some face. I have my pride too, sis."
"...Haa."
The First Demon stepped back. Realizing what that meant, Number 20 turned her head toward the Fourth Demon.
The Fourth Demon let out a chuckle.
"I'd like to give you time to think... but we're not that leisurely either. So decide right now. Well, you can probably tell which side is better for you."
"......."
Number 20 turned her trembling eyes to me, as if asking something. I gave a small smile.
This was a chance. It was undoubtedly a chance for her. So if she hesitated, shouldn't I give her a push?
I set aside the friendship we'd built. I whispered softly to her.
"Let's go, Number 20."
"......!"
Number 20 bowed deeply to the Fourth Demon. A somewhat bitter gaze brushed past me.
"Master."
Even her form of address had changed. She spoke in a trembling voice.
"I have a request."
"W-well, if it's a condition, I'll try to accommodate. You've got that much value."
"Can't you turn the elixir that Number 30 has into a proper one?"
"...Hmm?"
The Fourth Demon twitched his hand. The unexpected proposal caught me off guard too.
The Fourth Demon beckoned me with interest.
"If you have it, bring it out."
I pulled the black pill from my bosom. A thing hardly worthy of being called an elixir.
"...Hoo?"
The Fourth Demon let out an exclamation. The First Demon's eyes narrowed.
"Idiot. Where did you get that?"
"I got it after taking down Maeng So-un."
"...So you planned to make a puppet in the Myriad Demons Sect from the start. Still pulling your disgusting tricks."
"Puhuhu. Sis, didn't you know? That's why you used the Blood Demon Squad."
"I was just following the Cult Leader's orders, trying to eliminate those scheming. No matter how urgent the situation, asking for help from the righteous factions is unforgivable. Traitors-that's who the Blood Demon Squad and Death Blood Squad deal with. Even if the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader has good reputation, crossing the line is not allowed."
"The Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader sure got a raw deal. He reached out, but he didn't actually ally with the righteous factions, and even that helping hand turned out to be a ploy by the Myriad Demons Sect."
"The act of reaching out is the problem itself. Fourth Demon. An irreversible mistake."
Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader.
Maeng Cheon.
From their conversation, I understood why he was targeted by the Blood Demon Squad.
His son was suffering from an unknown illness, so he must have sought help from those around him. But even then, unable to find the cause, he tried to deceive the Heavenly Demon's eyes and make contact with the righteous factions.
He attempted contact with faint hope, but it failed. Later, he reached the one claiming to be the Disciple of Myriad Sages Divine Healer, but even that was the culprit who taught his son the White Demon Body.
A tangled web of power struggles.
The Myriad Demons Sect deceived the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader, and used the guise of savior to swallow the sect whole.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader was a victim of that scheme.
"Red Cloud. Do you know what this is?"
"No."
The Fourth Demon laughed.
"This is one form of the White Demon Body called 'Sacrifice.' It achieves rapid martial arts progress, but in the end, you just become a 'pouch' carrying spirit pills around. A technique like that."
"...What does that...?!"
"To learn it, the conditions are harsh. Many prerequisites are needed. And is it efficient? Not really. But the 'Sacrifice' form of White Demon Body can store gathered qi in the form of a pill. That's what 'Sacrifice' means."
"...Storage."
"Yes. Storage. Looks like this is the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader's qi. Not purely built internal energy from White Demon Body. Its purity is so great, it's hard to believe it's a demonic art."
"This much can be recycled. It was extracted before fully merging with White Demon Body. They stole the qi and compressed it into a pill... This is better called an inner core of a spirit beast than a spirit pill."
"Now you see why White Demon Body is called a forbidden art? It mass-produces spirit pills through human lives. Of course, they're full of impurities. The moment you consume one, breaking through to peak is impossible. Your internal energy clouds, your mind dulls. But the advantage is mass-producing first-rate warriors comparable to the entry of peak. Invaluable in war. Good thing you didn't eat it, Red Cloud. If you had swallowed this, you'd be stuck at first-rate for life, no matter how hard you tried."
Cold sweat dripped down. The First Demon clicked her tongue.
"If it's lying on the roadside, even if called a spirit pill, be suspicious. Even dogs don't gobble up random things."
"If you're gonna worry, just worry, and if you're gonna curse, just curse, sis."
"It's my teaching. Don't interfere."
"Kuhuhu. Got it."
The Fourth Demon fiddled with the pill.
"To turn this into a proper spirit pill, I'd have to do something that doesn't add up financially. Costs as much as making a high-grade one."
"......."
"But I can't say no to a new disciple. I accept the condition. But who will eat this?"
Number 20 bowed her head deeply.
"Give it to Number 30, Master."
"Fine. I'll do that."
"......."
"That face says why not oppose it, but is there reason to?"
The Fourth Demon grinned stickily.
"No reason to stop your disciple from connecting with mine. She's Blood Demon Squad now, but who knows later."
"Not my disciple. Fourth Demon. Say that once more, and I'll split your head."
"Kuhuhu. Well, a toy then, sis. A disciple. Need time?"
"...If you give it, I'll gratefully accept."
"Sis, step aside a bit. Let the little ones say goodbye."
"Don't touch my body, you bear cub."
The Fourth Demon dragged the First Demon away. The Blood Demon Squad Leader followed suit.
Number 20 turned to me. She lowered her head slightly sadly, then lifted it vigorously.
"You're right. Your real face is much better."
"...Same for you, Number 20."
"Not resentful? You're leaving me behind."
"What's there to resent?"
I was thrilled that she had seized the opportunity.
"I've just piled up debts, Number 20."
"Same here. We're even, right? If you hadn't insisted on entering that mansion that day, none of this would have happened."
"Even so, I owe more."
"...Stubborn."
Number 20 brushed back her fallen hair.
"If you owe a lot, come pay it back. When you get out. Got it? As the First Demon's disciple, you can escape somehow."
"Of course, Number 20."
"...Call me Seol-ran. Add senior after."
"Why senior?"
"I'm your senior. Idiot. In the Blood Demon Squad, and out there too."
Number 20 grabbed my clothes.
Pulled me in.
"...When you escape Demon Valley, come find me. I'll make a spot next to the Fourth Demon. Live together like here. Don't go to other sects. I don't want to cut you down."
"I'll be the one cut down?"
"Obviously. Number 30. You can't beat me. When you get stronger, I'll be even higher."
Number 20 smiled. I smiled back.
"Not Number 30, it's Red Cloud, Senior Seol-ran."
"...Much better than Number 30."
"I'll look forward to our reunion."
"Yeah."
Number 20, Silver Seol-ran, turned around.
"See you later, Red Cloud."
She left. The Fourth Demon and Blood Demon Squad Leader vanished too.
Only the First Demon remained and smacked my head.
"Even a shit dog would obey better than you."
"......"
"That face says you don't get it, so I'll teach you everything. Then expect death."
"...Is that okay for a treasured toy? I'll break."
The First Demon drew her sword.
"I'll just cut off your head and toss it to the beast cubs."
"My mistake."
"Tch."
The First Demon examined my body.
"You've clumsily crossed one wall. Not quite entry to peak. Heart and body qi are wandering separately; you haven't properly crossed even one wall. Can you manifest sword qi?"
"No."
"Knew it. Your mind raced ahead... You had an enlightenment. What was it?"
"...Just..."
I confessed about the Three Disasters Swordsmanship. The First Demon sighed.
"The sword you swung for ten years with faint hope turned out useful. A fortuitous encounter. That's the right view. Don't think something like this happens twice. Effort is your only path to survival."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"The miraculous part can be filled with the spirit pill the Fourth Demon will bring... but the completion of the forms and your frame are still hazy. Show me your back. I'll check your body."
The First Demon infused qi into my body.
"Heavenly Tribulation is still moving bit by bit. Seems rooted, but still expanding. You must still feel pain, huh?"
"I can endure."
"Endure what? If I passed your pain to convicts, they'd beg for death in moments. Stupid. If it hurts, just say it hurts."
"Then you'll nurse me?"
"Don't get cocky, you idiot pup."
I got hit, but I was actually glad.
That the First Demon came personally to protect me from the Fourth Demon.
"Your eyes displease me. Should pluck them out."
"...Treasured toy..."
She kicked my stomach.
I rolled in pain.
"How was your first mission?"
"......."
"Something to hide?"
"I didn't kill the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader."
"And?"
"...Even if I drew my sword, I don't think I could have killed him."
"Skill or heart?"
"Both."
The First Demon mounted me. Sitting on my back, she muttered.
"You're the Cult Leader's dog. Dogs shouldn't think. Thinking is for humans."
"......."
"Kill when told to kill. No other choices. Red Cloud. And no building pointless bonds with targets like this time."
"...Yes. Understood."
"Face says you don't get a thing, idiot pup."
The First Demon sighed.
"Why did I take something like this."
"...Not you, the Cult Leader..."
"I'll just sew your mouth shut."
"My mistake."
......
"The Blood Demon Squad Leader will fill the vacancy. Until the next mission, redouble your training. Train until you can wield the second form of Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art freely."
The First Demon left too. After that, I threw myself into training.
The empty spot of Number 20 felt vacant, but it couldn't be helped. All I could do was pray for her future.
The second form of Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art: Soul-Pulling Thrust.
I began to familiarize myself with application forms beyond the basics. But the first application form 'Flood Tomb' required a suitable opponent for proper practice.
There was no one in Demon Valley to ask for help. Only sharp ones around, most ungrateful even if fed.
So I ignored the ungrateful. I just hoped the new arrival would be like Number 20.
But before someone filled Number 20's spot, my elixir arrived first.
"By the Fourth Demon's order. Receive it, Number 30."
The Blood Demon Squad Leader came personally. With a somewhat awkward gaze, he handed me a wooden box.
"...If opportunity arises, could you put in a good word to your connection?"
"How so?"
"That I did well on that job... something like that."
"I'll try."
"Haha! Thanks!"
The Blood Demon Squad Leader left with a typical middle-manager face. I opened the wooden box in my lair.
A fragrant scent brushed my nose. The murky black pill was gone, replaced by a dark blue glowing one.
This is a spirit pill.
The qi mass containing the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader's energy.
I fiddled with the elixir. Confirmed no one around...
---Gulp.
I swallowed the spirit pill.