Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: A Devil's Plan
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To execute my debt collection plan, I need to use the fiend who recently appeared in Xian.
Wi Ji-cheon knew that a fiend had appeared in Xian around this time.
The incident had caused quite a stir, so much so that rumors had even spread to Nanyang.
The Seo Manor wont hand over the money willingly. Ill have to use the fiend.
Seo Manor.
This was Wi Ji-cheons target for debt collection in Xian.
He used the term debt collection because the Seo Manor owed money to the Medical Immortal Medical House.
The master of Seo Manor was once a physician of the outer hall at the Medical Immortal Medical House, but he embezzled a large sum of money and fled in the dead of night.
It had happened when Wi Ji-cheon was still very young.
At the time, the Medical Immortal Medical House couldnt recover the money.
There was no proof that the man from the Seo family had been the one to embezzle it.
Thanks to him, the already struggling Medical Immortal Medical House fell into even greater hardship.
It was said that the man even mocked the Medical Immortal Medical House for their plight.
They live like this because theyre fools who dont know how the world works.
His mother, already weakened after giving birth to him, had even developed an illness born of suppressed rage.
Wi Ji-cheon intended to recover the money the man had stolen back then.
He needed a plan to make the master of Seo Manor willingly cough up the money, with generous compound interest.
Could you tell me about the fiend that has appeared in Xian?
That is
I was thinking we might be of some help. Im sure Master Jang Sam would be pleased to lend a hand in this matter rather than simply accepting an apology and moving on.
At the mention of Jang Sam, Cheongsong could no longer refuse.
After all, their persecution of Jang Sam earlier had been a clear mistake.
This is normally confidential and shouldn't be disclosed, but Ill make an exception. The demonic art the fiend has mastered is believed to be of the Blood Yin lineage. He seems to abduct and kill women and children to harvest their life force.
Where exactly have his crimes taken place?
He mainly appears around Qujiang Road in Xian and also near Erfu Manor.
The Hua Shan Sect was as expected.
The information was detailed.
Dont get any dangerous ideas. I dont know about that unorthodox warrior, Jang Sam, but a young brother like you would be easy prey for the fiend. You must be careful.
Yes, thank you.
Then, we will be on our way. I urge you again, please, be careful!
The disciples of the Hua Shan Sect disappeared, and Jang Sam approached Wi Ji-cheon with a wary expression.
What scheme no, what profound idea do you have in mind?
He knew this devil was plotting something heinous again, but he couldnt fathom what it was or how he planned to do it.
Wi Ji-cheon simply shrugged.
Shall we take care of some chores before the main course?
Jang Sam soon found out what Wi Ji-cheon meant by chores.
Guh!! Guhh!!!
In a deserted house near Qujiang Road in Xian.
A grotesque man with bloodshot eyes was writhing in agony.
His vocal and motor points had been sealed, rendering him unable to even struggle amidst the excruciating pain.
A young boy was calmly looking down at him.
It was Wi Ji-cheon.
Were just getting started. How can you be struggling already?
Mph! Mph!!
You want me to save you? Hmm, well see how you behave. Before we talk, how about another round of bone-grinding and tendon-twisting?
Guuuuuhhh!!!!!!
Crack, crunch.
The gruesome sound of twisting bones echoed through the air.
Jang Sam watched the scene, his hair standing on end.
The Xian Killer Ghost, my ass. In front of that devil, even a murderous fiend is no better than a dog brought in for a summer feast.
Incredibly, the man suffering before them was the Xian Killer Ghost!
Based on the information from Cheongsong, Wi Ji-cheon had wandered the night streets where the fiend was likely to appear. The Xian Killer Ghost, finding the boy brimming with vital energy and looking like a delicious meal, had promptly abducted him and brought him to his hideout.
And this was the result.
After suffering for a long while, the fiend began to beg desperately the moment Wi Ji-cheon released his vocal points.
Please spare me. Please spare me. I failed to recognize a Demon Lord. I do not know if you are from the Holy Mountain or the Demonic Palace, but I have always recited the creed in my heart
As I recall, the creed of the Demonic Cult doesn't include instructions to harvest the life force of women and children.
Guuuuuaaaaghhhh!!!!!!
Wi Ji-cheon sealed his vocal points again, and the man writhed in terrible agony once more.
When his points were released again, the man didnt dare utter a word, only watching Wi Ji-cheons expression.
The Xian Killer Ghost trembled in fear.
Wi Ji-cheons bright, gentle-looking face made him even more terrifying.
Hes not some small-fry like me, hes a true Demon Lord! He looks normal, but he seems even crazier he must be a Demon Lord from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, not the Blood Cult!
For the record, since those who practiced demonic arts were called fiends, Wi Ji-cheon was indeed a fiend.
However, in his past life, Wi Ji-cheon was more often considered a master of the unorthodox factions rather than a fiend, as he had once been part of the Unorthodox Alliance, not the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or the Blood Cult.
What is the name of the demonic art you practice?
It is the Yin Soul Demonic Arts!!
Recite the oral formula.
Pardon?
The man hesitated.
Why? was the question in his mind.
The demonic art he practiced was a shoddy technique that wasnt even close to first-rate.
When Wi Ji-cheon began to move his hand again, the mans face went pale, and he hurriedly spilled the oral formula.
Wi Ji-cheon listened with his arms crossed.
It was an utterly inferior demonic art.
One that no proper fiend would ever practice.
However, Wi Ji-cheon listened meticulously, not missing a single detail of the formula. He even closed his eyes for a moment, replaying its contents in his mind.
A short while later.
Wi Ji-cheon had completely made the mans Yin Soul Demonic Arts his own.
Fwoosh!
A sinister demonic energy rose from Wi Ji-cheons hand.
He was channeling the demonic energy he had accumulated through the Blood Immortal Demonic Arts and manifesting it through the Yin Soul Demonic Arts.
Just as different internal energy methods suited different martial arts, demonic energy had different properties depending on the demonic art. Using it to perform an art of a different nature could cause problems, but with the power of the Heavenly Immortal Divine Arts, there was no need for such worries.
If I remove the side effects, this Yin Soul Demonic Arts could be quite useful. The Blood-Shattering True Energy, which was the source of the Blood Immortal Demonic Arts, wasnt a particularly great demonic art to begin with, after all.
Of course, he hadnt gone to all this trouble just to obtain a single demonic art.
Wi Ji-cheon placed his hand on the pulse of the Xian Killer Ghost, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression.
Wh-what are you doing?
Sensing his fate in Wi Ji-cheons emotionlessand therefore all the more terrifyinggaze, the Xian Killer Ghost began to scream like a madman.
No!! Spare me!! Kuaaargh! I dont know which Demon Lord you are, but do you have any idea whos behind me?!
Behind you? The Blood Cult?
H-how did you know?
Who else but the Blood Cult would pull a stunt like this with such a cheap demonic art?
Wi Ji-cheon replied nonchalantly.
The current martial world was dominated by the system of the Three Alliances and Two Cults.
The Martial Alliance, the Noble Family Alliance, and the Unorthodox Alliance.
The Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult.
These five colossal powers were locked in a struggle.
Their respective strengths were so immense that major, conspicuous conflicts like the Great War of Righteousness and Evil rarely occurred.
However, a fierce struggle was being waged beneath the surface.
The Blood Cult must have been plotting something in Xian to orchestrate this.
One of the Blood Cults most common tactics was to lay the groundwork for planting their spies within a family or organization.
Since the Blood Cult found it difficult to expand their influence openly, they often did so by secretly converting the leaders of families or groups into their followers.
Well, whatever the Blood Cult is plotting is none of my business as a physician of a medical house. Since its happening in Xian, the nearby Hua Shan or Zhongnan Sects will handle it. Its probably the work of their underlings, not the Blood Cults main headquarters anyway.
The Blood Demon, leader of the Blood Cult, was one of the candidates for the mastermind behind the fall of the Medical Immortal Medical House.
But, well
Wi Ji-cheon thought the probability of the Blood Demon being the mastermind was low.
No matter how depraved the White Immortal Medical House was, it was hard to imagine them joining hands with the Blood Cult.
Considering they joined forces with the White Immortal Medical House, the mastermind is far more likely to be the Prosperous King of the Noble Family Alliance, or the Martial Emperor or Sword Immortal of the Martial Alliance. Though on the surface, none of them seemed like the type to orchestrate such a thing.
Wi Ji-cheons gaze deepened.
He recalled the story Sa Ma So had told him about the Anti-Heaven Society not long ago.
The obstacles standing before the Medical Immortal Medical House felt heavy once more.
The answer was always the same.
The Medical Immortal Medical House must become stronger. For its sake, I will gladly become a devil.
Wi Ji-cheon injected demonic energy into the Xian Killer Ghosts pulse.
!!!
The Xian Killer Ghost died writhing, unable to even scream.
It was such a painful death that even Jang Sam, who was watching, felt a chill run down his spine.
Id better be careful from now on.
A sense of loyalty(?) bloomed fiercely in Jang Sams heart, which had recently grown complacent as he had become a bit more comfortable around Wi Ji-cheon.
Just then, Wi Ji-cheon turned to look at him.
Mister Jang Sam.
Please, just call me Jang! I am Jang!
Alright, Jang. Examine this mans corpse.
Jang Sam swallowed hard and approached the Xian Killer Ghost.
Even for a man like him, who had been through thick and thin as a warrior of the underworld, the Xian Killer Ghosts face was so contorted in agony that it made him flinch.
What do you see?
I see traces of the Young Masters demonic art, which has reached the realm of the heavens. A masterful technique that would not be out of place even when compared to the Demon Lords of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
A cold stare stopped Jang Sams rambling.
Seriously, how am I supposed to know whats in your devilish mind?!
Wi Ji-cheon shook his head and prodded the grotesquely twisted arms and legs of the Xian Killer Ghost.
You see this and still nothing comes to mind?
Huh?
A memory surfaced.
Something he had heard from the Hua Shan Sect disciple a short while ago.
The victims of the Xian Killer Ghost had their limbs strangely twisted. It seems to be a characteristic of the demonic art he practices.
In other words, Wi Ji-cheon had perfectly replicated the murders committed by the Xian Killer Ghost.
Do you understand why I did this?
Are you planning to commit murder by imitating the Xian Killer Ghost?
What are you talking about? I may not look it, but Im a benevolent physician. I dont kill people wantonly.
Jang Sam suppressed the urge to snap back with superhuman patience.
R-right. You are a scion of a medical house, Young Master. But then, why?
Have you ever heard the saying, give the disease, then give the cure?
Wi Ji-cheon looked off in the direction of the Seo Manor and continued.
The man from Seo Manor had committed a crime against the Medical Immortal Medical House in the past, so it was only right for him, a descendant of the Medical Immortal Medical House, to deliver punishment.
However, Wi Ji-cheon wouldnt just deliver punishment; he would also provide the cure.
After all, he was a physician who saved lives.
But I dont plan on giving the medicine for free. The price is going to be quite expensive.