Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Ch. 36 .｡.:✧ The Disciple's Return ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The journey back to the Demonic Cult, or rather, the Black Heaven Cult, was far more comfortable than my escape.
Whenever I showed the slightest sign of fatigue, the Heavenly Demon would stop and immediately set up camp.
Because of this, the return trip took quite a while.
We usually slept in the middle of the forest, and thanks to her martial arts prowess or something, we were never attacked by wild animals or even bothered by insects.
– It’s quite charming, grilling meat like this, isn’t it?
She said with a grin as she handed me a skewer of wild boar she’d gotten from somewhere.
She hadn’t let go of my hand since Sichuan, and even now, one of her hands was firmly clasped around mine.
Occasionally, her thumb would brush against the back of my hand, sending a strange shiver down my spine and making me avert my gaze.
She just laughed, saying that even my shyness was endearing to her.
The Heavenly Demon didn’t seem to care that I had no memories.
Based on my experiences in other dimensions, I expected her to interrogate me, but she showed not a shred of interest.
Her nonchalance was so unexpected that I finally asked her about it.
– I don’t have any memories. Doesn’t that bother you?
– Memories? They’re not important. The memories we’ll make from now on are far more important. The past is simply the past.
Her answer left me speechless.
We continued our journey by walking, resting, and setting up camp along the way.
When we reached the vicinity of Henan, the Heavenly Demon declared it would be our last night camping.
She began setting up camp with practiced ease.
With a few flicks of her wrist, trees crashed to the ground, and she gathered them to create a makeshift shelter.
It was a fascinating ability, no matter how many times I saw it.
“What’s wrong?”
The Heavenly Demon, noticing my stare, turned and asked.
“It’s just… you seem very proficient at this.”
“Well, you wouldn’t remember, but we spent a lot of time outdoors like this.”
“Ah… I see.”
“You always complained about setting up camp. I had to kick your backside to get you moving.”
She chuckled, as if remembering something amusing.
Could my backside really have withstood her kicks? The same kicks that sent Namgung So-yeon flying?
“Haha…”
I just laughed, not knowing what else to say.
“Are you hungry?”
“Actually, yes. A little.”
My stomach had been rumbling for a while. I just hadn’t dared to mention it in her presence.
“Good. We’ll have some meat soon.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask… where do you get the meat? I haven’t seen you hunt.”
I asked, feeling a bit foolish, and she clapped her hands as if she had just realized something.
“Ah! You wouldn’t know. There’s actually someone else with us.”
“Someone else?”
The clearing was empty except for the two of us.
“Come out.”
The Heavenly Demon commanded, and a woman emerged from her shadow.
“!!!”
I was too stunned to scream, my mouth agape at the bizarre sight.
“Let me introduce you. She’s someone I value highly in the Cult. You can call her Shadow Demon.”
“Greetings, Young Cult Leader. I am Shadow Demon.”
“Young Cult Leader?”
The woman, clad in black, bowed her head to me.
“As the Cult Leader’s disciple, you are the Young Cult Leader, are you not?”
“Uh…?”
“What’s wrong? Of course you’re the Young Cult Leader. You’ll have to get used to that title.”
I looked at the Heavenly Demon, questioning her with my eyes, and she simply shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“…”
Young Cult Leader? I was dumbfounded.
It was unsettling to have a complete stranger bowing before me in such a subservient manner.
Her tight-fitting clothes left little to the imagination.
“Shadow Demon.”
As I was staring at Shadow Demon, the Heavenly Demon suddenly called her name.
“Yes.”
Shadow Demon straightened up, and the Heavenly Demon swung her arm.
*Thump!*
Which sent Shadow Demon flying, and she crashed into a tree, which snapped with a loud crack.
Yet, she didn’t make a sound and simply returned to her place.
“I apologize.”
“Good. As long as you understand.”
“W-what just happened…?”
Completely lost, I stammered, and the Heavenly Demon let out a snort.
“I was merely disciplining her for her indecent attire, which dared to distract your gaze.”
“You are right, Young Cult Leader. I will be more mindful of my attire in the future.”
What kind of comedic routine was this?
“But I wasn’t looking at her like that…”
“Lies! I saw your eyes lingering on Shadow Demon’s backside. How dare you try to deceive your master?”
She raised her voice for the first time since we met, her hair swirling around her as she channeled her energy.
“…I apologize.”
“Good. Since you admit your wrongdoing, I’ll let it slide.”
The Heavenly Demon set a skewer of meat over the fire and sat beside me.
Perhaps it was the flickering flames, but her gaze felt intensely hot.
“I’m not denying your natural male instincts. However, feeling such instincts towards just any woman is something only beasts do. Understand?”
“Y-yes.”
She stroked the back of my hand, as if making me swear an oath.
“You only need to look at me, feel me, desire me. You don’t need any other woman. Understand?”
“Y-yes?”
“Good.”
“Wait a minute…”
“Lalala, I can’t hear you.”
She shook her head, as if ignoring me, and then went over to Shadow Demon to give her some instructions.
Shadow Demon bowed and then vanished.
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The next day, the Heavenly Demon woke me earlier than usual.
“The path to the Cult is quite treacherous, so we must hurry.”
We extinguished the fire and started climbing the mountain.
The Heavenly Demon hadn’t been lying. The path to the Black Heaven Cult was extremely difficult.
I didn’t enjoy hiking in the first place, and climbing this poorly maintained mountain trail felt like cruel and unusual punishment.
I collapsed several times and feigned exhaustion, but she was unusually firm.
“Get up. The more you dawdle, the later we’ll arrive.”
“Yes, yes.”
Frustrated by the relentless climb, I started to talk back to her, testing her patience, but she simply smiled at my impudence, taking no action.
By the time we reached what she called the halfway point, the sun was already setting.
“We’re past the difficult part now.”
“You said that at the foot of the mountain, too.”
I gave her a skeptical look, knowing that was one of the biggest lies hikers tell. She insisted this time it was true.
Well, true or not, it didn’t change anything.
“In-ho.”
As we continued our climb, she suddenly stopped and called my name.
I followed her gaze.
A vast forest stretched out beyond a sheer cliff.
The orange glow of the setting sun illuminated the breathtaking scenery.
The sight filled me with a sense of awe.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
She asked, taking my hand, and I nodded.
“This is the scenery we both held dear.”
“Me and… you, master?”
I struggled to utter the still-unfamiliar word, and she caressed the back of my hand.
“Yes, the scenery we promised to see together someday.”
Her voice cracked with emotion.
“I’ve cultivated this scenery for a long time, just to show you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, tracing a path from her ruby eyes to her chin.
“I’ll ask you again. Isn’t this scenery beautiful?”
“It’s…beautiful.”
She looked even more beautiful, breathtakingly so, bathed in the warm glow of the sunset.
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After watching the sunset, we resumed our climb.
I was worried about the early nightfall in the mountains, but we reached the Black Heaven Cult surprisingly quickly.
The clamor of voices, the music of instruments, the savory aroma of cooking oil.
A cacophony of sounds and smells assaulted me as we entered the Cult gates.
“We greet the Supreme Leader of the Black Heaven Cult, our Cult Leader!”
“Welcome back, Young Cult Leader!!!”
A huge crowd bowed before the Heavenly Demon and me.
I stumbled back, overwhelmed by the sea of faces.
“Straighten your shoulders and back. You are my disciple. Such a slovenly posture is unbecoming of you.”
The Heavenly Demon whispered in my ear, her voice was stern.
I straightened up.
“Good. Maintain that posture.”
She patted my shoulder approvingly and stepped forward.
I followed close behind, and she raised her arms high and shouted,
“Let the music play!”
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