Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Off to Sealed Demon Cave
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Daylight broke. After sorting out the luggage to take in my travel pack, I changed into the clothes the First Demon's maid had prepared separately.
A simple martial robe, far from elegant but easy to move in. I bowed my head politely.
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank the likes of me..."
"I don't hold any position either, so aren't we equals? Feel free to speak casually."
"...You're as kind as ever."
The maid smiled brightly.
"Have a safe trip, my lord."
"Yes."
I strolled through the compound. The First Demon's residence stood out conspicuously large even within the main cult's grounds.
A place that didn't suit her personality at all.
The First Demon was more frugal than expected. She insisted on only the necessities for meals and avoided flashy luxuries.
She seemed detached from money. Yet she stayed in a place like this probably because...
It was to uphold the prestige befitting her station.
To maintain her position as the First Demon, she had to display authority.
At the end of my path, the First Demon awaited me.
She naturally stepped behind me and checked inside my travel pack.
"Spare clothes? Did you pack them properly?"
"Yes."
"Emergency rations too, packed generously?"
"Yes."
"First-aid medicine? I packed that separately for you. I'll put travel money on top."
"That too..."
Listening to her, I couldn't help but chuckle.
What was this? It was attention I'd never even received from my parents.
"Um... First Demon."
"What? I'm busy. You didn't pack the trivial stuff, good. If anything's missing, buy it along the way. I put plenty of travel money in, so no need to worry about funds."
"Is there any souvenir you'd like?"
"Souvenir I want?"
The First Demon poked her head out from beside the pack.
"You fool. I'm the First Demon. I hold the top seat among the Heaven and Earth Eight Demons. I'm also the Blood Squad Leader commanding the entire Blood Squad. I already own most things that catch my eye, and the rest are beyond what you could buy."
"...I see."
"Don't get funny ideas. Just go and come back. If you bring back a ghost sword, we'll have to train on how to wield it."
The First Demon patted my pack.
"There's much you haven't learned from me yet. Don't stray elsewhere needlessly. Just focus on returning quickly."
"First Demon."
"What now?"
"Thank you. Always. For taking care of me."
The First Demon whipped her head away.
"Taking care of you? I've never done that once. This is just... right. A final check before you leave. Properly handling the task the Cult Leader assigned is only natural for one of the Heaven and Earth Eight Demons."
"First Demon. If there's really something you need..."
"I said no."
I pondered inwardly.
Come to think of it... Didn't the First Demon always make sure to drink something every morning?
I remembered it was green tea. Amid the simple fare that came up, it was the only thing that seemed luxurious.
Its aroma was deep. Even with her mask slightly lifted, her lips curved up unmistakably as she savored it.
I tucked that scene away in a corner of my heart.
I'd heard there were many artisans in Sealed Demon Cave.
Surely I could find a suitable gift, even if not tea leaves.
I turned to look at the First Demon. I always wanted to do something for her.
It wasn't just because I'd received so much from her. It was those occasional acts, like just now, that made it impossible not to give back.
She's a good person.
The closer we grew, the more I felt that way.
"I'll be off, First Demon."
"What's your name?"
"Flying Heaven."
"Don't forget your alias. And wear this on your face."
I took the human-skin mask she offered. I applied it carefully and checked that it wouldn't come off.
"The delegation consists of 15 junior disciples and 30 escort warriors. Plus five more. That's Black-Hand Ghost Physician Na So-wan, who guides the delegation, and his attendants. You'll join as one of them. Of course, your status will be the same as the other attendants."
"Understood."
"Give this letter to Na So-wan. He'll watch your back. He'll treat you well by default, but he's more meticulous than he seems. If he judges you're no help to the delegation, he'll kick you out on the spot. He's strict like that. Stay out of his bad books, and diligently do whatever he asks."
"Understood."
"The delegation aims to foster harmony among sects. Its members are divided into three factions from the sects. But as I said, forget harmony-expect sharp rivalries everywhere. The sects inherently check each other, so tensions run high. Red Cloud... no, Flying Heaven. Don't get arrogant. The cult is overflowing with experts like you. You'll bump into them on the road now and then. So absolutely, absolutely don't strut around with your shoulders back. You still have much to learn, so unless necessary, keep your head down and your sword sheathed."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"...But if a time comes when you can't endure without drawing it..."
The First Demon tilted her head.
"If you're drawing anyway, draw boldly. If your life hangs by a thread, hurry the gift I gave you back to me. I'll come myself if time allows. It's no trouble."
"First Demon."
"What?"
"If it's not too rude, may I have a hug?"
"A-are you insane?! What nonsense is that?!"
"Sorry."
Her nagging had become familiar now, and I knew it stemmed from worry for me.
That's why I just wanted one hug.
Not a true master, but one who felt like one.
"I'll be off, First Demon."
I bowed deeply and took a step forward.
My sleeve was grabbed. My whole body spun around.
The First Demon crooked her remaining finger.
"Take it off."
"Pardon?"
"Take off the human-skin mask for a moment."
I raised my hand and carefully peeled off the mask. The First Demon hesitantly extended both hands.
"Come."
"...Pardon?"
"C-come on! Didn't you say you wanted a hug? You've worked hard, so think of it as a bite from a dog and take it! If you want to, hurry up and hug me!"
I suppressed the urge to peek at her face beneath the mask. Leaning carefully toward her flustered voice, I embraced her.
Soft texture. Warm embrace.
Once I held her, I didn't know what to do and glanced at her expression.
She clicked her tongue.
"Not some big overgrown kid. Bend at the waist."
"Yes."
I bent lower. Our eyes level, she reached out.
Wrapping around my waist, she pulled me into a tight embrace.
"...Good grief."
The First Demon let out a languid sigh.
Her departing hand stroked my head.
"What an odd one."
A master's voice.
I closed my eyes softly.
...
The journey itself wasn't difficult. With a new face and new name, I could walk the main roads openly.
Morning sunlight I'd never imagined during my Blood Demon Squad days. Walking alone often left me lost in thought.
Following the First Demon's orders, aside from unforeseen emergencies, I avoided trouble and camped out as long as rations allowed. Stopping at intermediate villages was less appealing than honing my martial arts alone late at night.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword.
Its form, now at proficiency, was mastered up to the fourth stance.
The movement art that wields the body fiercely: Ghost Hand One Demon.
The slash that splits foes in a single step: Soul-Pulling Thrust.
The blood-shadow that strengthens the entire body: Tyrant Demon Shadow.
And...
Flash Scatter.
I reviewed the techniques I'd recently learned. Martial arts were simpler in structure than expected.
Low-power moves could be chained endlessly. Minimal preparation and internal energy made it natural.
But high-power moves required preparation time and focused energy simultaneously. Powerful techniques had to be used only in moments that could decisively fell the enemy.
Flash Scatter belonged to those powerful techniques. Strictly speaking, it was closest to detonating charged internal energy all at once.
Swords clash. Inevitably, shock accumulates.
But is accumulated shock the end? Far from it. Part of the energy from the extended technique gets sucked back into the dantian without fully dissipating.
Separating that returning energy and accumulating it alongside the shock.
The internal energy swells fuller with each clash of swords, becoming the foundation for unleashing a powerful technique without separate preparation.
In other words, chaining attacks while naturally preparing a lethal strike that blends seamlessly.
That was Flash Scatter.
Of course, due to how it was constructed, it couldn't be used separately. It fundamentally required "clashing."
Soul-Pulling Thrust, Ghost Hand One Demon, Tyrant Demon Shadow.
It wasn't exaggeration to say those three formed the prerequisite for using it mid-battle. Its power was exquisite, nearly like scattering light.
Strong and sharp.
Even I, who couldn't wield it perfectly, could blow away anything in front.
And...
Transforming Sword.
I tried drawing out the completely different energies dwelling in my dantian.
But I couldn't. From the start, I could only accept them.
Unable to draw them out, I couldn't form the incantation.
Couldn't infuse the Transforming Sword.
"......"
Indeed...
Without obtaining that ghost sword, I'd have to settle for merely harboring these.
I lightly drew my sword. Sliced my palm shallowly.
Blood smeared over Seong Ja-myeong's sword, already repaired. Heavenly Tribulation immediately regenerated the cut palm.
The ensuing excruciating pain. But now familiar, I endured it.
Heavenly Tribulation still functioned normally. The near-vanished pain sometimes made me doubt if it was there.
So I checked visually like this occasionally.
This thing was now inseparable from me.
I rose. Hurried onward. Walked from early morning to night, spending the rest on training and rest.
The map's destination drew nearer. The gradually paved roads proved it.
From my Murim Alliance days, a colossal village I rarely saw came into view.
One of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's few precious sites.
The stronghold ruled by Myriad Demons Sect, the mightiest of the three sects.
Black Giant Citadel.
Aside from the Demonic Palace on Heavenly Mountain, it was the largest fortress I'd ever seen.
Its walls were sky-high, worthy of "natural fortress." The interior stretched endlessly, breathtaking.
Complete with its own checkpoint.
"What's your business?"
"I'm here to join the delegation heading to Sealed Demon Cave."
"Go in."
No identity check. Just a warning.
"This is Myriad Demons Sect territory. Don't draw your sword recklessly."
A roundabout way of saying don't cause trouble.
My steps naturally merged into the massive crowd.
People packed so thick I couldn't see ahead.
Fitting for Myriad Demons Sect's domain, everything was vast and grand. Most residents were well-off cultists even by cult standards.
Felt briefly like returning to the Murim Alliance area.
I hurried to the rendezvous. Spotted the enormous inn, suffocatingly large, and stepped inside.
A waiter blocked me.
"Sorry, sir, but we're busy preparing for the 'Sealed Demon Cave Delegation.' We'd appreciate if you used another place."
"I'm with the group."
"...Do you have some token proving your identity?"
I raised the identity plaque the First Demon had given me beforehand. The waiter startled and guided me inside.
The interior bustled. Despite time left until the appointed hour, early arrivals drank and chatted.
Wealth to rent an entire high-end inn. Confirmed the delegation carried weight. Checked the date.
Three days.
Three days until departure. Worth the lightfoot rush.
"Do you know where Black-Hand Ghost Physician Na So-wan is?"
"That'd be them over there."
A group of five. Black-clad, nursing drinks.
Black-Hand Ghost Physician Na So-wan. Which one was he?
I moved toward them.
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