Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Fox, Not Puppy
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"First Demon."
The Heavenly Demon leisurely sipped her tea from her seat on the jade throne.
The bitterness was as ever. But to call it simply bitter when something sweet lay before her?
Of course, it wasn't for eating. It was something to feast on with the eyes.
The Heavenly Demon grinned mischievously at the First Demon, who sat beside her handling paperwork.
"Do you know about that?"
"What do you mean?"
"There was an intruder in the Sealed Demon Cave."
"......!"
Look at that. Her hand froze solid.
Even the casual way she tried to act was stiff. Her voice grated too.
"What... intruder do you mean?"
"Subduing Demon Squad Leader Na So-wan said there was a profound Taiji mystery at the tip of the sword."
"The Mount Wudang Sect...!"
"I heard their mechanisms were destroyed, and part of the entire Sealed Demon Cave collapsed. Apparently, some Subduing Demon Squad members died too."
Even with the mask on, her expression beyond it was visible.
The Heavenly Demon let out a deliberate sigh.
"What a shame."
"...Does that mean...?"
"Yes. Your guess is correct."
The First Demon rose silently. She bowed her head without hesitation and moved to leave the throne room at once.
The Heavenly Demon asked,
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to retrieve the body, at least."
"Body? Why bother?"
"...Isn't it the dog you entrusted to me, Your Holiness?"
A flash of killing intent. A chilling demeanor.
It felt as if she'd newly sheathed a blade beneath her mask.
"If it's dead, I'll bury it in a sunny spot. It worked hard all this time, after all."
"I see..."
"Could I take a few days' leave as well, Your Holiness?"
"Why?"
"I have a place to stop by."
The Heavenly Demon asked slyly,
"If they touch our side just because they touched theirs, it's no different from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult making its move in the martial world."
"I'll handle it on my own."
"Just to be sure, what do you plan to do with Mount Wudang?"
"No need for an ox-cleaver to catch a chicken..."
The First Demon murmured chillingly.
"Not even a squad is necessary. With what you've taught me, Your Holiness, wiping out one righteous sect is something I can do alone."
"The opponent is one of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Schools. Going alone will only get you killed."
"I have no intention of dying."
"Is there really reason to go that far?"
"I'm merely giving fitting punishment to those who dared mock our cult."
Punishment, my foot.
She's brimming with personal grudge.
The Heavenly Demon chuckled slyly.
"Well, if you have business, go quickly and come back. This lady will have to play with the puppy when it returns."
"...Pardon?"
"Hm? Why are you still here?"
"B-but you just said it died..."
"Did I? When?"
The Heavenly Demon feigned innocence.
"All this lady said was that some Subduing Demon Squad members died."
"'What a shame' meant..."
"The Sealed Demon Cave was built with considerable effort-how could that not be a shame? Just the money poured into it... Ugh. I don't even want to imagine."
"Grind."
"First Demon. Your teeth will shatter."
"......"
The First Demon sat back at the table hesitantly. The Heavenly Demon leaned toward her.
"Didn't you say you were taking leave? What are you doing? Go on already."
"...No need anymore."
"Oh? And here I thought it was strange for you-a woman who's never even uttered the word 'leave' in her life-to suddenly ask..."
Hmm.
Delicious.
The Heavenly Demon licked her lips.
"Not a puppy, but a fox. A fox. Isn't that right?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"The brush you were holding snapped. Go replace it with a new one."
"......."
---Thud! Thud!
Her footsteps as she left were especially loud. The Heavenly Demon snickered.
She's sulking.
It's been a while since I've seen her like this. Come to think of it... just a moment...
"Hm?"
That First Demon.
Doesn't she sulk for a good long while?
"First Demon. It was a joke, you know?"
"I'm working."
"......."
......
The Ghost Valley Night Lord, who had been searching for a soul matching mine, soon raised the white flag.
"Not a single one among all these?"
The walking corpses all collapsed when the Ghost Valley Night Lord shone his strange lantern on them. Just like the scene I'd seen before.
I couldn't actually see the souls. Only the Ghost Valley Night Lord could.
That's why watching him converse with empty air felt like watching a madman.
"You don't like it either? What? This is the first one you've seen with such a heavy blood stench...? Aren't you yourself a corpse soaked in blood?!"
After wandering for a long time, the Ghost Valley Night Lord ground his teeth.
"It seems naturally occurring souls just don't match you. In that case, no choice but to use another method, even if it takes time."
"What method...?"
"Isn't it obvious? There's a reason I'm called the Ghost Valley Night Lord. Fool. We could use souls as they are, but..."
The Ghost Valley Night Lord took me to the smithy I'd seen before.
"Mixing different souls to forge a new one isn't bad either."
"Isn't that disrespectful to the dead?"
"Death and life-the boundary between them is so subtle no one can define it sharply. Respect for the dead? In other words, these souls linger in this world due to lingering attachments. Staying here, they'll only rot away their regrets forever. From that perspective, I'm actually helping them. Can you even call the dead 'people' in the first place? It's a matter of perception."
The Ghost Valley Night Lord picked up a hammer.
The oddly shaped hammer's head wasn't the usual square.
It was like an awl at the end.
"Tempering souls washes away their regrets. No different from smelting ordinary iron. The explanation's a bit complex, but... what I do is combine the remnants of sucked-dry souls to birth a new one. I can roughly match the yin or yang energy you want, but the temperament might differ from what you expect."
"You mean..."
"A ghost sword forged from a new soul is like a newborn baby. Ever seen a baby that listens well? Not me. The other souls complaining of the blood stench means... you've stained your sword with no small amount of blood."
"......."
That's...
Talking about my blood, isn't it?
"Villain or hero, I don't care. I didn't make it for that. I only value the master's form in accepting the sword. That's why I'm making a ghost sword for you. I'm curious what kind of life you'll live wielding it."
"......."
"But remember this. Depending on what blood you stain the sword's tip with-and have stained it with-the ghost sword will react. It'll hear your soul's resonance, grow, and take form accordingly. What you'll have from now isn't a completed ghost sword, but an unfinished one. You'll sleep with it, move with it, hone and train it. The start is feeble, but someday you'll draw the power you desire from within the ghost sword. It'll grow as you grow. But..."
The Ghost Valley Night Lord grinned.
"There's a reason it's called a ghost sword. Even when you think you've raised it right, it'll turn on your soul. All ghost swords yearn to possess a body. Even a newborn soul is the same. Perhaps even more so. Handle it well. I don't want to meet you next as a different 'Bicheon'."
"......."
"Three months. Exactly three. Wait inside the Sealed Demon Cave. I need you to make the ghost sword. It must be tailored to your body, so even if everyone else leaves, you stay."
"...Understood."
Three months.
I nodded. I woke the sleeping Bloodfiend Chick and handed it over to Subduing Demon Squad Leader Na So-wan with a letter.
Na So-wan, hearing the situation, nodded.
"If it's First Demon's order, no choice. Three months... Then I suppose I need that answer now, as originally promised."
"...Squad Leader."
"Is that answer a refusal?"
"I'm sorry."
"No helping it."
Na So-wan packed her belongings.
"But I haven't given up. Let's promise for next time."
"......?"
As if he couldn't stay in the Sealed Demon Cave forever, the Subduing Demon Squad Leader gathered his group. Among them were Yeon-gwang and Seo Cho-hee.
Yeon-gwang's was just a simple sword repair. So it finished even faster. Realizing there truly was a profound Thunder Force Sword mystery hidden in the sword left by his master, Yeon-gwang was greatly excited.
"This is undoubtedly the sword foundation for me! The incantations had so many gaps I was puzzled, but this fills them perfectly! Brother!"
"Congratulations."
"Brother, this won't be farewell, right...?"
I pressed down on Yeon-gwang's head.
"See you later, Yeon-gwang."
"...Yes! This Yeon-gwang-call me anytime you need! I'll come running on all fours!"
"Come on two feet."
Seo Cho-hee teared up. She thrust her face close, burdensome.
"Senior. Won't you visit the North Gate Poem Society at least once?"
"If time allows."
"I'll be waiting eagerly. Absolutely. Since it's like this, let's set a date..."
"Doesn't the inspection group seem ready to depart?"
"Hey, you promised! Senior! I believe you'll come!"
Gun Cheon-gyeong shouldered his bundle.
"Thanks to you, junior, I'm heading back alive. Nearly died there."
"I only made it this far thanks to you too, senior."
"Such humility. The squad leader seemed to like you a lot. If you're interested, join the Subduing Demon Squad. I'll take good care of you till the end!"
"I'll keep it close to my heart."
"Kuhuhu. Stay healthy. See you soon-not officially, but privately. Drinks on me! This senior who's seen and heard much will take you to the best spots, so call me!"
"Stay healthy, senior."
Eun Seol-ran.
Sima's disciple spun toward me with a smile.
"Three months. Does making a ghost sword take that long?"
"Seems so."
"What will you do inside all that time?"
"Train to control the ghost sword and keep honing my martial arts as usual."
"Ugh. Practice bug won't change. Don't overdo it."
"If life isn't steep, can it be called life?"
"Blatantly saying you won't listen-happy? Huh? Haaappy?"
My cheek was pinched lightly. Eun Seol-ran giggled.
"My previous offer stands. I'll keep the bodyguard position open for you."
"I'll remember."
"Be careful-extra careful. Got it? Just remember I'm Sima's disciple now. And that you saved a later-generation disciple of the Black Snake Sect this time."
"That's...?"
"It means you have a sky-high senior watching your back."
"I see."
I pondered briefly.
I gripped Eun Seol-ran's hand firmly.
"Wh-what?"
"Thank you for the words, but I'll decline."
"Huh...?"
"Instead, I have something else to say. Senior Seol-ran."
I've only received-so I want to give back.
That feeling never changes.
"If you need help, just say the word. I'll come running anywhere. Just as you've had my back, Senior Seol-ran, I'll always be on your side."
".......!"
Eun Seol-ran looked down at our clasped hands. Her fingers wriggled, then hooked onto mine.
"...Cheeky junior."
"Not good?"
"What do you mean not good."
Eun Seol-ran released my hand with a clap. She spun around.
Her smiling face was beautiful. So very much.
"Expectations?"
"Of course, senior. Look forward to it."
Eun Seol-ran gazed at me intently before chasing after the departing group. I watched her back just as intently.
I turned away too. Now, I was the only outsider left inside the Sealed Demon Cave.
I started with the practice I'd put off. While repairing Yeon-gwang's sword, I gripped the new bloodsword he'd made first.
It was light in weight itself. The balance was excellent too-far better than before. How about qi circulation? The extended sword aura's form was fully settled.
The difference between a well-fitting sword and a poor one was huge. Every downward strike naturally compared them.
The difference from the sword I used before. The extended Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword was wreathed in blood qi. I swept it all up and slashed down.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Fourth Form.
Flash Scatter.
A tearing flash slash. The built-up internal energy in the sword stance explodes at once.
A long sword scar etched clearly on the Sealed Demon Cave wall. Unlike before, the mark was clean and sharp-no trace of wasted power flow.
"...Hoo."
Definitely different. The destructive power of the technique had risen. Just changing the sword did this much. What would the First Demon say if she saw?
I swung the sword lightly. A sword too sharp was also a problem. Even a casual thrust sliced the rock cleanly.
The bloodsword touched by the Ghost Valley Night Lord's hand had been reforged with a new edge, blending black and red perfectly. No ghost qi flowed, but its sharpness alone made it alien enough that the apprentice smiths kept asking to examine it.
"What is this... A master smith's work is different indeed... Haah..."
"What talent does it take to reach this level...?"
"Even a lifetime of training wouldn't touch it. Like a monster..."
After a week, spectators gathered. They'd whisper while watching my swordplay, then slyly leave snacks behind.
Some touched the sword scars I'd left. Some exclaimed in admiration.
"Carved the swordsmanship literally."
"Little brother, what path have you walked...?"
"No wonder... Ghost Valley Night Lord took a liking to you."
"Effort so clear it's visible. Even as a non-martial artist, the hardship shows-how not to admire?"
I enjoyed conversing with them too. Craftsmen and I shared common ground.
That day and night know no bounds for realization. Those in the Sealed Demon Cave weren't all geniuses. More were ordinary folk.
Those who devote a decade for one thread of a master's technique.
I understood their hearts, and they mine. We held different things, but pursued the same goal.
The end of what we held.
How far with what we gripped.
Acquaintances grew. From knowing just one or two names to over ten.
Even after brief chats, some lingered by my side. Some, fired up, set up simple workshops right nearby.
My training spot-chosen as remote inside the Sealed Demon Cave-began drawing crowds. By over a month, it was somewhat lively.
With people, trade boomed. They'd examine each other's work, grafting onto their skills.
Not a street of master craftsmen...
A street of practice novices short on talent.
Our skills might lack, but we all ran ceaselessly. Underground in the Sealed Demon Cave, we spent days and nights focused on what we sought to create.
When three months passed, the Ghost Valley Night Lord visited my spot. He asked, eyeing the gathered apprentices dubiously.
"You... must have some knack for drawing people."
"Coincidence."
"Hmph. Strange one. The ghost sword is complete."
"You mean..."
"First, something to tell you. These ones, well..."
The Ghost Valley Night Lord's brow furrowed.
"I tried making ones like you... but some weird ones popped out. Better see for yourself."