Chapter 4: What Should I Eat First?
To that absurd suggestion, I lost my cool.
She was ready to draw her sword against Yong Baekheon for my sake, and this guy wanted me to drain her?
'Hey, Mister Bong. I said I don't want to turn into a monster, and you're trying to turn me into a human butcher?'
[Who said anything about killing her? Just take a little at a time as needed. Her qi will refill, and you can draw from it again whenever required.]
'So you're saying use Geumran as a bottomless fountain of qi? Are you insane?'
[What's the problem? This spirit merely made a perfectly reasonable proposal.]
Our ways of thinking were just fundamentally different. Then again, debating human ethics or morality with a ghost from the demonic path was about as pointless as it gets.
At least he wasn't suggesting I kill her and steal it outright—small mercies, I guess.
"Hosam, why are you staring at my face like that?"
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Let's walk and think about it for now."
Standing there face-to-face was making the atmosphere weirder by the second.
I started walking alongside Geumran, sinking back into thought.
Of course, Bongmareung wasn't giving up and kept yammering away.
[The purity of her demonic qi is a bit lacking, but not bad at all. It's Buddhist internal energy mixed with a touch of killing intent—such a contradictory yet delectable flavor...]
'Shut up, Mister Bong.'
[The first time is always the hardest; the second is easy. And technically, this would be your second time, no?]
'Enough already!'
I knew all that.
Sure, she had learned demonic arts by force, if reluctantly, and she'd been selected as the Young Cult Leader's attendant precisely because her skills were top-notch. She had to possess some prime true demonic qi.
'Taking just a portion shouldn't threaten her life.'
But I just couldn't bring myself to lay a hand on someone who trusted me blindly and followed me without question.
Bongmareung clearly didn't get it.
[It won't even hurt that much. Why hesitate? Just touch that pale nape of hers, and the Blood Spirit Demonic Binding Art will activate on its own.]
'No, I can't do that. There has to be another way.'
[What other way? Time is running out. Come on!]
'...!'
Suddenly, a fierce thirst erupted in my mouth.
Whether Bongmareung had pulled some trick or not, my heart pounded, and desire blazed up like wildfire.
'I want to turn around and touch her right now.'
It felt like obeying would solve everything, no issues at all.
But I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue.
The metallic tang flooding my mouth snapped me back to sanity.
"Fuck off."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. My inner voice just slipped out loud."
Fuck off, Mister Bong.
I even flipped him the bird in my mind's eye.
Self-inflicted wounds to shake off mental compulsions were a common trick in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, crawling with all sorts of demonic scum.
[You fool! If you don't drain that virgin, you might die!]
Bongmareung sounded flustered.
Fine by me if I died.
[What? The master of the Blood Spirit Demonic Binding Art dying from qi deficiency? Ridiculous! Hurry and feed! Just touch her neck!]
'Nah, I said no.'
[You insolent brat! Fine th—!]
A bigger surge hit me along with the spirit's roar, shaking my mind with the urge to pounce on her.
But tasting the blood pooling in my mouth, I crushed the desire again.
'Hah, first time's hard, second's easy, huh?'
[Damn it! Why resist?]
''Cause I feel like it.'
[Enough with the childish wordplay!]
Bongmareung was at a total loss. Why, though?
My life or death shouldn't matter to him.
Or did it?
'If I die, you're screwed too, huh? Ah, is that it? 'Cause I blew up The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon?'
[You damn cheeky rogue. Quiet!]
'You can be honest. We're in the same boat now, right?'
[......]
The spirit fell silent for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
[Fine, you are right. This spirit's true body was destroyed. If you die before new Chronicles of the Sealed Demon are compiled, I will vanish too. Complete annihilation.]
'Oh ho.'
[Oh ho? You idiot! Do you really plan to end it all with this spirit? After I went to the trouble of reviving you, just to die so pathetically? Is that why I bothered!]
His voice brimmed with outrage, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
This old man had a cute side, after all.
'Who said I wanna die? I just said no touching her.'
[Damn it! Same difference! So what now? You want me to go vegan?]
No such thing as a vegan demon spirit in this world, obviously.
I bit my tongue again, an idea solidifying.
Info from Yong Baekheon's memories.
'Let's hit the Young Cult Leader's armory.'
[What?]
'It's packed with stuff I can absorb demonic qi from.'
I'd drain qi from objects, not her.
But Bongmareung reacted like I'd suggested eating grass.
[What nonsense is this? Do I look like a junk dealer to you?]
'Why not? You said even qi in sacred relics can be absorbed, right?'
He'd mentioned it offhand while explaining the Blood Spirit Demonic Binding Art. I hadn't forgotten.
'Not gonna pretend you don't remember, are you?'
[......Unbelievable.]
'So it is possible?'
[You fool! Weapons are mere accessories! Compared to the qi harvested from living demonic cultivators, it is worth a pittance!]
Really?
I turned and headed somewhere.
And when we arrived...
'Still just a pittance?'
[Huh? This is...]
Even Bongmareung, who'd been scoffing, shut up.
* * *
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had a title called "Little Demon."
It was bestowed on promising talents who might become candidates for Young Cult Leader before the Grand Cult Leader officially named his heir.
'In other words, Young Cult Leader candidates.'
Yong Baekheon, who earned the solo Little Demon title at age nine, claimed the Young Cult Leader's throne exactly three years later, proving his superior bloodline and talent.
And this was the room displaying treasures he'd collected since his Little Demon days.
'Tiger-Splitting Whip. Supposed to drop a house-sized tiger in one hit?'
[Indeed. It was the beloved weapon of that Iron Chariot Demon King fellow. To think it is still here.]
'This one's the Moon-Shaving Sword. Cut off a Shaolin abbot's head once, right?'
[It is the Moon-Shaving Sword. But the tale is distorted. It did sever the left arm of that era's Nangong family head, though.]
'Anyway, impressive sword. And this one...'
[Oh, that thing...]
I wandered the display hall, taking in the weapons, while Bongmareung reminisced nonstop.
Even for him, seeing this many divine arms in one place seemed a novel experience.
And one other person.
Geumran looked flustered too.
"Hosam? This is...?"
"The Young Cult Leader's armory. Needed something, so I stopped by."
"Th-then can I wait outside?"
Once inside the armory, she seemed deeply uncomfortable.
Her face was oddly pale.
"What's wrong? You okay?"
"Dunno. Stomach just feels off."
Then Bongmareung chimed in from my head.
[The demonic qi pooled here is too dense. Send her out quick.]
"Got it. You can wait outside."
"Yeah. I'll be at the entrance."
"......"
I watched her go, puzzled.
I hadn't trained in demonic arts at all and felt fine—why was the actual demonic cultivator struggling?
'Thanks to getting Bongmareung? But I was okay even before.'
I wanted to ask, but Mister Bong gave me no chance.
He'd spotted something in the corner and whooped.
[That! Grab that one! Hurry!]
'What? That scrap metal? Even Yong Baekheon tossed it aside 'cause he didn't know what it was.'
[Foolish child with eyes turned to clamshell rolls.]
'What is it?'
[Can you not tell from the majestic demonic qi traces? Though mostly burned away, leaving just the hilt and partial blade, that is a relic of the Sword Heaven Demon!]
'...!'
Sword Heaven Demon Yong Bijeong.
Sixth patriarch of the Yong Demon Clan and grandmaster!
Among past Heavenly Demons of the Cult, renowned as the finest swordsman, earning the "Sword" epithet.
No greater swordsman existed in all Central Plains history.
His Asura Sword had been lost somewhere, as far as I knew...
'That's the legendary Asura Sword?'
[Yes. During that holy war, it felled countless righteous sect warriors and even swept away the Murim Alliance's Five Great Elders. But it ended up like that from a joint assault by Wudang's One Sword Immortal and Huashan's Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign.]
'......'
[Naturally, the Sword Heaven Demon seized the Zhongnan sect leader's sword and hurled them beyond the Yellow Springs. He even clashed with the Shaolin abbot and severed his left arm. Yong Bijeong was the sword incarnate, blessed by heaven.]
I knew it too.
As skies beyond skies exist, he deserved the title of greatest swordsman ancient or modern.
[Grab it quick!]
'Fine. You were whining about junk dealing a minute ago.'
At his urging, I gripped what seemed the hilt of the charred sword remnant.
A subtle wave of power flowed into my palm.
Mister Bong groaned in appreciation.
[Mm! So profound yet elegant, swift as a gale yet lofty in demeanor. A scent betwixt righteous and demonic paths. Like the fragrance of a woman unleashing a storm of blood mist atop Qingcheng Mountain...]
What kind of review was that?
Anyway, time to settle this.
I released the Asura Sword and laid down the law to Bongmareung.
'So, can absorbing these divine weapons replenish my qi? Yes or no. Just tell me that.'
[Ahem.]
He hemmed and went quiet.
Clearly angling for a deal.
But I'd already sensed the shift.
Time for the final nail.
'Old man, truth is, I've got a few cult sacred relics stashed away too.'
[Sacred relics? You mean...]
'Heavenly Jade Saintess's teacup, True Moon Monk's diamond necklace, Blood Thunder God's folding fan. Relics left by martyred demonic cultivators.'
[Oho! How did you get them?]
'Snagged 'em wandering the Hundred Thousand Mountains whenever I had time. Throw in demonic manuals or treasured weapons not in The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon?'
[To think you had such talent. For manuals or treasures not recorded by past Heavenly Demons, this spirit would certainly accept... Huh?]
Bongmareung caught on late and clammed up.
But I grinned.
'What's wrong?'
[Damn. I am being treated like a full-on junk dealer.]
I grinned wider, and Bongmareung, busted, sighed deeply.
Proof my qi-replenishment plan worked.
Looking over Yong Baekheon's collected divine arms, laughter bubbled up naturally.
'Back when that bastard obsessed over treasures, I wanted to torch them all.'
Now they looked beautiful.
Every item here was an elixir to nourish me.
'Alright, what to eat first? The Asura Sword, maybe?'
[Yes, let us. But first, calm your mind.]
'Why?'
[The Sword Heaven Demon's qi lingers faintly but sharply alive. It is not something for you to take lightly.]
'Guy's been dead over a century.'
[You will see for yourself. Grab it. Let us begin.]
I spread my palm and seized the blackened sword remnants.
In that instant, a white tidal wave roared through my mind, crashing down.