Chapter 35: The Disciple's Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: The Disciple's Return
The journey back to the Demonic Sect—that is, the Black Sky Cult—was far more comfortable than the frantic flight away from it had been.
If I showed even the slightest hint of exhaustion, the Heavenly Demon would stop in her tracks and immediately begin preparing camp.
Thanks to that, the return trip took quite a while.
We mostly slept in the middle of the woods, but whether it was due to her martial arts or something else, we were never attacked by wild animals. Even biting insects stayed away.
"Fufu, roasting meat like this truly has a certain charm, doesn't it?"
Having made skewers out of wild boar meat she’d sourced from somewhere, she smiled brightly at me.
She hadn't let go of my hand once during the entire walk from Sichuan to here. Even now, one of her hands held mine in a firm grip.
Occasionally, she would stroke the back of my hand with her small thumb. Every time she did, a strange sensation washed over me, making me reflexively avert my gaze.
She simply laughed, saying she even liked seeing me act that way.
The Heavenly Demon didn't seem to mind that I had no memories.
Based on my experiences so far, I expected her to pry into the circumstances of my amnesia, but she showed absolutely zero interest in the matter.
Her attitude was so cool about it that I eventually found myself asking why.
"Um... I don't have any of my memories. Is that really okay with you?"
"Memories? They are not important. The memories we will build together from now on are what truly matter. That which has flowed past is merely the past."
I had nothing to say in response to that.
And so, the cycle of walking, resting, and camping continued.
When we arrived near Hanam, the Heavenly Demon declared that today would be our final night of camping.
She began to skillfully set up the site.
With a few waves of her hand through the air, trees collapsed with a loud crack, and she gathered them roughly to create a place fit for sleeping.
No matter how many times I saw it, it was a truly marvelous ability.
"Why do you look at me so?"
As I stared blankly, the Heavenly Demon, who had been preparing the bedding, turned to look at me.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that you seem very used to this."
"Of course. You may not remember, but we spent a great deal of time together in the outdoors like this."
"Ah... I see."
"You used to throw tantrums every time, saying you didn't want to prepare the bedding. I had to give you a kick to the backside every single time."
She chuckled, seemingly finding the memory hilarious.
Wait, my butt survived a kick from her? A kick from the woman who sent Namgung So-yeon flying with a single blow?
"Haha..."
Not knowing how else to respond, I just forced a laugh.
"Are you not hungry?"
"Now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry."
In truth, my stomach had been growling incessantly for a while now. I had simply been too intimidated by her presence to say anything.
"Indeed. You shall have meat soon."
"Um... I've been wondering, where exactly do you get the meat? It's not like you've been out hunting."
When I asked my stupid question, she clapped her hands as if she had just realized something.
"Ah! You wouldn't know. Actually, there is one more person here."
"One more person?"
I looked around, but the clearing was empty save for me and the Heavenly Demon.
"Come out."
At the Heavenly Demon’s command, her shadow began to wriggle, and a woman emerged from within it.
"!!!"
I couldn't even scream; I just stood there with my mouth agape at the bizarre phenomenon.
"Allow me to introduce her. She is a child I cherish within the Cult. You may call her Spirit Demon."
"I greet you, Young Sect Leader. I am called Spirit Demon."
"Young Sect Leader?"
The woman, clad in black, bowed her head deeply to me.
"Since you are the Lord's disciple, are you not the Young Sect Leader?"
"Uh...?"
"What is the matter? Of course you are the Young Sect Leader. It is a title you must grow accustomed to."
When I shot the Heavenly Demon a look asking what on earth she was talking about, she looked back as if I were asking something obvious.
"......"
Being called the Young Sect Leader all of a sudden left me dumbfounded.
It felt awkward to have a woman I’d never seen before bowing to me in such a submissive posture.
Looking closely, her clothes were so skin-tight that the curves of her body were revealed without filter.
"Spirit Demon."
As I was looking at Spirit Demon, the Heavenly Demon suddenly called her name.
"Yes."
Spirit Demon rose from her bow, and the Heavenly Demon immediately swung her arm—
Thud!
She sent Spirit Demon flying. Spirit Demon slammed directly into a tree, and despite the loud crack of the wood breaking, she returned to her spot without letting out a single groan.
"My apologies."
"Good. As long as you understand."
"W-what just happened...?"
I stammered, unable to follow the flow of the conversation at all. The Heavenly Demon let out a huff of breath.
"I merely disciplined her for daring to distract your gaze with such lewd attire."
"That is correct, Young Sect Leader. I shall pay more attention to my clothing in the future."
What kind of comedy routine is this?
"No, it's not like I was looking at her like that..."
"Silence! I know your eyes lingered on Spirit Demon’s backside. Do you dare try to deceive your Master?"
It was the first time she had raised her voice at me since we met.
Her hair fluttered as if she had channeled her internal energy into the shout.
"...I'm sorry."
"Good. Since you admit your fault, I shall leave it at that."
The Heavenly Demon set the meat skewers near the fire and sat down beside me.
Was it because of the flames of the campfire? I felt a distinct heat in the way she looked at me.
"I do not deny the inherent instincts of a man. However, acting on those instincts toward just any woman is the behavior of a beast. Do you understand?"
"Yes... Yes."
As if extracting a vow from me, she gently stroked the back of my hand.
"You need only look at me, feel only me, and desire only me. You have no need for other women. Do you understand?"
"Yes... Wait, what?"
"Since you understand, that is enough."
"No, wait a second."
"Quiet. I can't hear you, lalala!"
Ignoring me with a shake of her head, she walked over to Spirit Demon and gave her some instructions. Spirit Demon offered a polite bow and vanished on the spot.
*
The next day, the Heavenly Demon woke me up earlier than usual.
"The path to the Cult is quite treacherous, so we must hurry."
We left the campsite, having only roughly extinguished the fire, and began to climb the mountain.
The Heavenly Demon hadn't been lying; the path to the Black Sky Cult was incredibly rugged.
I’ve never liked mountains to begin with, so being forced to climb an unmaintained mountain trail was a cruel punishment.
I tried collapsing a few times as if I were dying, but she remained firm, unlike before.
"Get up at once. The more you dawdle, the later we shall arrive."
"Yes, yes."
Driven by spite from the continuous hiking, I tried talking back to her a little, but she only laughed at my rudeness and didn't do anything else.
By the time we reached what she called the halfway point, the sun was already setting.
"The difficult section is over now."
"You said that at the foot of the mountain, too."
When I looked at her with dead eyes for telling one of the biggest lies told while mountain climbing, she insisted that this time it was the truth.
Well, whether it was true or false didn't really change anything.
"In-ho."
As we were walking aimlessly up the path, she called out to me and stopped.
I looked where she was pointing.
A vast forest stretched out along a sheer cliff.
The orange glow of the sunset illuminated the magnificent landscape.
The massive sunset felt as if it were filling my entire body, making my heart swell with emotion.
"Is it not beautiful?"
Having come to my side at some point, she took my hand and asked. I nodded.
"It is the scenery that you and I held in our hearts."
"Me and... Master?"
I struggled to say the word 'Master,' which still felt awkward, and she caressed the back of my hand.
"Yes. The scenery you and I promised to see together one day."
Her voice sounded thick with emotion, as if she were on the verge of tears.
"It is a landscape I have tended for a long time, just to show it to you."
A single tear fell from her ruby-colored eyes. It traced a path down her eye, ran along her cheek, and hung from the tip of her chin.
"I shall ask you once more. This scenery... is it not beautiful?"
"It's... beautiful."
Her silhouette, bathed in the light of the sunset, was breathtakingly beautiful.
*
After watching the sunset, we continued our climb.
I had worried about the darkness since night falls early in the mountains, but my concerns were misplaced as we arrived at the Black Sky Cult in no time.
The boisterous sounds of people, the ringing of musical instruments, and the savory smell of oil.
A chaotic, festive atmosphere washed over me the moment we stepped through the Cult's gates.
"We greet the Supreme Being of the Black Sky Cult, the Lord!"
"Congratulations on your return, Young Sect Leader!!!"
A massive crowd of people was bowing toward the Heavenly Demon and me. I flinched back at the sight of that grand human wave.
"Straighten your shoulders and back. You are my disciple. I will no longer permit such a pathetic display."
The Heavenly Demon’s voice whispered in my ear. I corrected my posture at her stern tone.
"Good. Continue to show them that side of you."
Looking satisfied, she patted my shoulder a few times and stepped forward.
I ended up following closely behind her, and she raised her arms high toward the sky and shouted.
"Strike up the music!"