Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Transferred Disciple
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"Flute."
'Oh, right. Come to think of it, the Young Cult Leader said he uses a flute instead of a sword.'
But could a flute really be stronger than a sword?
Without a blade, how could it even cut an opponent?
"Is the Young Cult Leader's flute really that amazing? Do people just drop when they hear the sound?"
I asked, recalling a scene from some wuxia novel I'd read.
"A regular flute carries internal energy through sound waves, but the Young Cult Leader's is different. It's more like demonic arts than martial arts."
'Demonic arts... I've seen the term in wuxia stories, but I'm not sure what it really means.'
Whatever. If I don't know, so what?
I have a master, after all.
For once, Gwangyu's presence felt reassuring.
"What's the difference between demonic arts and martial arts?"
"Demonic arts are, simply put, evil martial arts."
"Evil martial arts?"
"Yeah. Unlike ordinary martial arts that build internal energy through safe cultivation, demonic arts demand dangerous training methods or come with severe side effects despite granting great power."
"Like training that requires killing countless people to gain power?"
"Exactly. You might fall into qi deviation while acquiring that power, or end up eating human flesh or blood."
'How does the Young Cult Leader even have such a dangerous power?'
"That doesn't mean the Young Cult Leader has eaten human flesh or blood, so don't misunderstand, little bean."
"But if not, then how did he acquire demonic arts?"
"I don't know that either. When the Young Cult Leader first appeared in the cult, he already had them, and he doesn't talk much about it himself."
"No one knows?"
"Well, he must have his reasons for not saying. But one thing I'm sure of is that he's not the type to commit atrocities. He's got a surprisingly warm side."
"Eek, you're joking, right? The Young Cult Leader, warm?!"
"Hard to believe, I know, but back when he didn't know I was a snake, he even built me my own house."
'The Young Cult Leader built a house for a snake?'
I couldn't imagine that consistently impassive face diligently constructing a snake house.
Still, thinking back to how he'd made sure I had warm meals while serving as his maid, or draped his outer robe over me while waiting for Pippi... maybe he did have a warm side?
As I recalled the Young Cult Leader's rare acts of kindness, Gwangyu continued wistfully.
"He even caught mice for me to eat. But after he found out I was that snake, he got creeped out and cleared the house away."
'Looks like the Young Cult Leader taking care of him meant a lot.'
"Of course, he loves the handkerchief you made him too!"
Gwangyu beamed happily, pointing to the one faithfully tied around his neck.
"As long as my master likes it."
'Though at first, he mistook the embroidered black snake for one that had vomited blood and died.'
Seeing how he treasured the handkerchief regardless made my heart soften.
"Master, since you're in a good mood, could you grant me one request?"
"Anything! Little bean, I'll grant any request from my disciple!"
"That letter you're sending to the Heavenly Demon. It won't be delivered until all eleven elders have stamped it, right?"
"That's right. But why?"
'Is it okay to ask my master for this?'
But I had no one else to turn to.
With my mind made up, I looked straight up at Gwangyu.
"I want that letter delivered after the tournament ends. Could you hold off on the stamps until then, Master?"
'If Daddy comes to the cult before the tournament, he'll definitely try to stop me from participating.'
That would ruin all my carefully laid plans!
"Why do you want the letter delayed?"
It was a perfectly natural question from Gwangyu, who didn't know I was the Heavenly Demon's daughter.
'What should I say without raising suspicion?'
And I had no time to think!
"W-well... If the letter goes, the Heavenly Demon will come to the cult and watch the tournament, and that'd make me too nervous! And who knows? What if he enters the tournament? My win would be impossible then. I need to eliminate variables!"
Gwangyu readily agreed as I watched him, spouting every excuse I could muster to delay the letter until after the tournament.
"Sure!"
'He accepted that easily?'
No follow-up questions?
It was good for me, but somehow suspicious too.
"That's it?"
"Yeah, I promised to grant anything you ask, little bean. So I have to."
'Truly, no one beats my master at being straightforward.'
For the first time, I was grateful for Gwangyu's simplicity.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Thank you too, little bean!"
"What are you thanking me for?"
"I don't think I properly thanked you for the handkerchief. Better late than never."
Gwangyu's shy smile made him look like a fresh young boy, not a thousand-year-old snake.
'With such a pure appearance, who would guess he's a millennium-old black snake? His mental age is sometimes even younger than mine.'
I'm glad I chose a good master.
As I gazed fondly at Gwangyu treasuring his handkerchief, my thoughts drifted back to the Young Cult Leader.
'Anyway, his power is supposed to be that incredible?'
I've been nagging a guy like that to eat his meals?
Suddenly, he felt distant.
Snapping out of it, I suddenly remembered the tournament was less than a month away.
"No way! This isn't the time for daydreaming!"
"Huh?"
Gwangyu turned to me with a bewildered look as I shouted abruptly.
"To win the tournament, I need to cultivate until I can control my internal energy freely! Time's short before it starts! Let's go train, Master!"
"Such enthusiasm, little bean! Alright, to the training grounds!"
What can I say, master and disciple—we pumped our fists in unison and dashed out of the meeting hall.
We'd only walked a short way from the hall when a familiar face appeared.
"Hello, Chirpy Adjutant. We meet again?"
Elder Orak greeted me amiably.
"What? Orak, why are you still here? Didn't you head back to the cult's territory?"
Gwangyu made no effort to hide his displeasure, but Orak grinned innocently, without a care.
"I'm back at headquarters after so long, so I thought I'd stay a few days. Especially with such a tempting talent around."
Orak eyed me openly, as blunt as Gwangyu.
"So, I wanted to introduce myself to the Chirpy Adjutant!"
'An introduction out of nowhere?'
From one of the eleven elders, no less?
"We're not going to see each other again, so why bother introducing yourself? Scram! Shoo!"
Gwangyu shooed Orak away with sweeping hand gestures.
Yet Orak steadfastly faced me and began his introduction.
"I'm the 11th Elder, Orak. As you can see, I'm a handsome pretty boy. Won't you take me as your master?"
'What kind of introduction is this?'
And he skipped all the important details...
"Orak, my disciple isn't swayed by mere looks. And I already took her as my disciple—why would she even notice your face?"
"Master."
"No need to say it. Little bean, I know I'm handsome enough."
'Turns out my master is just as full of useless chatter.'
For a moment, I felt embarrassed that Gwangyu was my master.
"Hmm, how about this? If you become my disciple, I'll teach you the Sound Transmission Technique. I heard you're struggling with internal energy control, and I know a simple way to fix that."
'The Sound Transmission Technique is tempting too...'
"Can you really help me wield my internal energy freely?"
Orak's confident demeanor perked up my ears.
"Little bean, why are you even asking? You're not falling for this guy, are you?"
"Of course. I don't say things I don't mean."
Even amid Gwangyu's fussing, Orak calmly replied to me.
'Orak doesn't seem to be lying.'
A 11th elder wouldn't bother lying just to take me as a disciple.
The Golden Immortal Lotus was helping with my internal energy, but learning from a Demonic Cult elder could speed things up even more.
"Little bean, I can teach you the Sound Transmission Technique too! It's no big deal!"
As Gwangyu hurriedly boasted of his own skills,
"Master."
"Yes?"
I turned to Gwangyu, my decision made.
"Yes, little bean! I knew our master-disciple bond wouldn't let you abandon me!"
The moment Gwangyu tearfully hugged me in,
I whispered secretly in his ear.
"Can I switch masters for just one day?"