Chapter 115
**
The place the maid headed toward was not the martial field.
It was the location where my second life began.
The Heavenly Demon’s training chamber.
I walked along the flickering flames. There was someone sitting in that underground training chamber.
A familiar back. A thick scent of magic.
Ilma withdrew, maintaining his distance. The maid stepped back and pressed against the wall.
I slowly approached the figure in front of me.
“Master.”
“You’ve come?”
The Heavenly Demon, Cheonsoso. She waved her hand.
“Come here and sit, Puppy.”
“Yes.”
I complied as instructed. After sitting beside her, I looked up at the wall just like she did.
The vast training chamber was filled with countless marks.
The Heavenly Demon asked.
“Puppy, doesn’t this remind you of old times?”
“Indeed.”
“In the past, I could only marvel without understanding it. But how about now?”
I glared intensely at the numerous golden lines drawn by the Heavenly Demon.
The indestructible Vajra Iron.
This training chamber, built with the most solid metal in the world. Even if I were to draw my sword and strike now…
There’s no way I could leave such a clear, deep, flowing mark like that.
“I am merely in awe of your skill, Master.”
“If you say that after I adjusted my strength, what would that make me?”
Adjusting strength, huh.
If someone else had said that, I might have harbored slight doubt. But the person before me was the Heavenly Demon.
A martial artist whose depth I could hardly fathom.
“If I were to fully exert my strength, this place would be destroyed. These lines are just casually drawn reminders—Jeok-un, the place you must surpass is beyond this.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Remembering is one thing. But it must not end with mere words. If it does…”
The Heavenly Demon sighed languidly.
“You won’t even be able to surpass what you need to chase.”
“…….”
“Jeok-un. Have your farewells concluded?”
“Thanks to your consideration, I was able to finish everything safely.”
“Consideration? No, I simply preserved your motivation. Those who have a place to return to are the strong. What I did was merely create a reason for you to return after completing your mission. I’m straightforwardly using you, so there’s no need to be grateful.”
“Nevertheless, I am grateful.”
“Then I will accept that gratitude without reservation.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled.
“Jeok-un. The one who took your place sent a letter to the Martial Alliance. And simultaneously, a reply came in. It indicates to return with information. Do you know what a ruse is?”
“Are you referring to mixing the fake with the real?”
“The information you take is true. Quite valuable information. It contains some secrets from inside the martial field. Don’t forget to unfold it and memorize it along the way.”
The Heavenly Demon snapped her fingers. Ilma handed me a rolled-up scroll.
“This is high-level information that a mere gatekeeper shouldn’t have. Therefore, we’ll say you obtained all of this by charming one of the martial field’s maids. And that maid is the one who led you on your way the entire time.”
The expressionless maid slightly bowed her head.
“Remember March. I have fallen for Jeok-un. Once I leave, I plan to sob on the streets.”
“March. It’s her real name too. On the outside, she’s just one of many maids in the martial field, so the Martial Alliance will surely be convinced of the information’s authenticity. Everyone will be amazed at the information a third-rate martial artist from the Martial Alliance, returning after several years, has inquired about. You should receive quite a decent reward. The important thing is what comes next.”
“What do you mean by next…”
“The Martial Alliance will suspect you were in the martial field regardless. Create a stage that will reassure them, allowing you to act comfortably. Your mission will only begin after everything is prepared.”
The Heavenly Demon handed me a piece of paper.
“There were quite a few spies hiding within our temple. That number swells to hundreds at times. So it’s impossible to deal with them all. Furthermore, I have no particular interest in them. How much information could these riffraff get away with?”
“So, then…”
“The individuals I want are not all of them. I want three spies who aimed for my life.”
“Your… life, Master?”
“Yes. And it’s somewhat progressed.”
“Excuse me?”
The maid walked over and presented her with tea.
The Heavenly Demon chuckled as she quenched her thirst.
“This never seems to adapt, no matter how much I drink.”
“…Could it be…”
The tea she had been sipping on until now.
She tilted the cup once more.
“I heard this is called the Soul Severing Poison. It’s a vicious toxin. There’s only one place known to create such heinous poison among righteous factions.”
“You mean the Si Cheon Tang?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head.”
The Heavenly Demon grinned.
“That poison was likely crafted there. Of course, this is just a guess. Even I, who have passed the threshold of the Invulnerable Poison, once nearly spiraled into death, so it wouldn’t have been manufactured solely by Si Cheon Tang. I suspect others must have been involved as well. The tea I’ve been drinking is an antidote that slows the progression of the poison. Unfortunately, even that hasn’t worked, and it’s slowly eating away at my body.”
“…Why… do you have that…”
“It’s natural to keep such things unsaid, isn’t it? I am the symbol of the Demon Cult. Order is maintained only because I stand firm. The name of the Heavenly Demon carries weight. And let me say this. Such poison matters very little to me.”
The Heavenly Demon rolled up her sleeves and raised her arm.
“Even while poisoned by the century’s supreme toxin, I still remain strong. And that’s why I am the Heavenly Demon.”
“…What must I do?”
“You needn’t worry about the poison. I’m leisurely detoxifying. I’m analyzing each piece one by one without relying on any drugs. Cheongeop also has the ability to analyze toxins. You must know that too. Although it’s a terrible poison, the time it takes to analyze it is a concern. But in any case, that’s why I’m saying there’s no need to worry. However, it’s not about that.”
“…….”
“I could have laughed off the spies who fled. A martial artist must be prepared for death once they wield the sword. Broadly speaking, the information warfare is also a form of confrontation, akin to a life-and-death duel that I share with them. They too fled after putting their lives on the line, so considering I’ve dealt them a blow wouldn’t be inaccurate. But this time is different. Among them are those I cannot just laugh off. For the sake of the honor of our temple, three individuals must be executed as a lesson.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled ominously.
“The first is the one who poisoned me. She was a woman who spent the closest time with me. A subordinate I cherished well. Though not quite like Ilma, she was suitable to keep close. But on the day of her escape, she slaughtered many innocent maids and attendants in the martial field and fled. March’s sister also fell victim.”
The always expressionless maid bit her lip. I, puzzled, asked.
“…Why would one not a martial artist kill attendants and maids…?”
“The mutilation of corpses was brutal. I tried to find meaning in it as well. But ultimately found none. All I discovered was sheer malice.”
“Malice, you say…?”
“That bastard did it purely to mock me. Surely, there was a mix of being unable to kill me and seeking revenge.”
Revenge?
“What could… that imply? What kind of martial artist is that?”
“There are principles called ideologies in this world. The more obsessively one clings to them, the clearer the boundaries between black and white they draw. Some take it a step further, thinking they may toy with anything they deem black. They don’t regard them as fellow humans—rather, just mere playthings.”
The Heavenly Demon looked up at the sword marks engraved on the wall.
“A martial artist should understand they might be cut as soon as they take hold of the sword. I too bear that fact in my heart no matter how much I grow stronger. The disparity between the strong and weak. Such deterioration is unavoidable among those who wield the sword. But that’s a story only concerning those who bear the sword. Those who don’t should be viewed separately.”
“……”
“Yet still, that bastard crossed the line. Pulling in those unrelated, decorating the martial field with their corpses. Just because we belong to the same temple, does that make us all villains? Just because I belong to the temple, must I be treated like a toy even though I’ve not wielded a sword?”
“……”
“All workers that entered the martial field are selected by me personally. They trust only in my back and voice. Those individuals, if they die while remaining silent, it would render the weight of the name ‘Heavenly Demon’ meaningless.”
The Heavenly Demon took a breath. She closed her eyes, then opened them as she muttered.
“…That explanation was lengthy. The second is simpler than I mentioned. It concerns the individual who stole the forbidden arts from our temple.”
“The forbidden arts… you mean?”
“The Soul Binding Technique. It’s a vile method of controlling the dead martial artists. It’s akin to hollowing them out and leaving the exterior intact.”
“…….”
“The previous leader of the Flame Team who took the Soul Binding Technique turned our entire Flame Team into puppets and returned to the Martial Alliance. Among them, a few were the individuals I trained personally.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled bitterly.
“It shouldn’t have been possible if that bastard’s competence wasn’t considerable. It’s a dreadful technique. It must be recovered. Even those who are already like corpses must be dealt with. If they fall under the Soul Binding Technique, they’re as good as dead. After slaying them all… bury them in my place.”
“I understand.”
“The last one is someone you already know.”
I recognized what that meant.
“It refers to the Seven Evils of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists, doesn’t it?”
“Exactly. Ironically, he’s also the one aiming for my life. Furthermore, he’s also been deceiving me for over ten years.”
“…….”
“What more is there to say? It was originally something I intended to resolve with my own hands. But I couldn’t. He hid, and afterward, he fled. He’s likely hiding somewhere in the martial world. Given he was a spy, he may even occupy a significant position within the Martial Alliance.”
The Heavenly Demon spoke softly.
“Many warriors died protecting me on the day I was poisoned. Is that all? Numerous corpses of church members were discovered at the estate of the Seven Evils. He must have drained a considerable amount. The martial arts he wielded against me had changed dramatically. It was a martial art built upon life. Most of the numerous missing persons incidents circulating in the temple were related to him.”
“…….”
“He is akin to a solitary specter of bloodshed. You must be cautious. Make sure to kill him. Despite his palatable exterior, he’s someone born with the aura of a butcher… Do not be deceived by appearances, just like me.”
“I understand.”
“Good, concise. I appreciate that.”
A brief silence filled the air.
The Heavenly Demon stood up.
“Those three have undoubtedly been using imitative facades. There’s a high probability all of them are fakes. But even so, there exists a connection among them. They were the three leading the espionage, and their personal connections were likely among those three, so if you can ascertain one, you’ll likely uncover the identities of the other two.”
“…Then I should start with that leader of the Flame Team, I suppose.”
“Exactly. He took the greatest number with him, so traces must have been left behind. Gather information from within the Martial Alliance. If you gain their trust, you’ll create opportunities to access high-level information. As I mentioned earlier, also stir things up at Si Cheon Tang. You might obtain leads on the source of the poison.”
“…….”
“What you need to do is simple. Jeok-un, I won’t ask you to steal information or to kill someone in a senior position for our temple. I only want you to show them what it means to have meddled with us. Leave traces of our temple where you slay the three. Engrave it in that place for all to see that our temple has not forgotten its grievances. Show the Martial Alliance that we have not remained silent due to a lack of strength.”
“I understand.”
“I hold great expectations for you. Since the incident, I have not been trusting of people, but… I think it is okay to trust you. You have shown me enough that there’s no need to ask, but… nonetheless, I will.”
The Heavenly Demon looked straight into my eyes for the first time.
“Are your words still valid?”
I immediately understood what that meant.
I clasped my hands together and bowed to her.
“My intentions have not changed.”
“…You must continue to be mine. As long as you do not surpass me.”
“Even if I were to surpass you, I would not stand against you, Master.”
“…Heh heh heh.”
The Heavenly Demon pulled me close.
The frigid tone in her voice slowly melted away.
“It seems I won’t be able to see you for a long while, which makes me a bit lonely. But even so, I will endure.”
“I will return as quickly as possible.”
“Before saying that, there’s something you must do. If you, merely being a gatekeeper, show up having reached Huaxing’s level, it’s only natural to attract suspicion, isn’t it? But, you aren’t one to hide your martial prowess well.”
“That… is true.”
“If someone gets a simple grip on your state, they will surely notice something amiss. So there are a few things you must do from now on.”
The Heavenly Demon extended her fingers.
“First, use Cheongeop to conceal your physical condition.”
“I’m already doing that, aren’t I?”
“You and Cheongeop are nearly one and the same now. The level of mastery has risen further with my grand method. If I can do it lightly, you can too. Wrap your dantian with Cheongeop. Block the flow of energy artificially and act as a mere underling.”
“How do I do that…?”
“If your Cheongeop had been completely different from you, I wouldn’t have mentioned this. But even in its initial stages, the Cheongeop that once relentlessly nipped at you has now calmed down like a tamed beast, hasn’t it? You can do this.”
At her command, I moved Cheongeop.
Cheongeop, who had previously acted as though it were annoyed, gradually shifted. Unlike before, when it was difficult to handle, it now moved smoothly.
First, I had to close up the energy channels.
I blocked several blood vessels by myself and halted the circulating energy. Then, I wrapped Cheongeop around my dantian.
Though Cheongeop seemed to express its displeasure, that was it. Cheongeop, fully wrapped around my dantian, fell back asleep.
The Heavenly Demon appeared satisfied.
“Seems like it’s doable.”
“…Master?”
“Just kidding. Now, since the first is resolved, let’s move on to the second. This is even simpler. Do you remember your old specialty?”
“My specialty…?”
“I’m talking about the Three Calamities Sword Technique—your long-practiced swordsmanship. That should be the martial art you can showcase in the righteous faction. Act as if you’ve reached a heightened level wielding just the Three Calamities Sword Technique. It’s best to minimize showing the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword in front of others.”
“I understand.”
“Also, carrying around two swords will surely draw attention… so always have a long coat to conceal it. A blood-cursed cloak should suffice. As it matches the outfit you’re currently wearing, take that with you. It’ll cover the internals, making your four swords less conspicuous. Ideally, leave two swords at your lodging and only carry about two. Or do as you please.”
“Yes.”
“I will soon be stepping down from my position as the Heavenly Demon. The day I am called Master is not far off. But even after stepping down, I will still be active as the Elder Master for a while, so there’s no need to rush through matters. Even if I resign, power doesn’t vanish in an instant.”
The Heavenly Demon patted my shoulder and dusted off the grime.
“Don’t rush and ruin things; act slowly. The more you build trust with the Martial Alliance, the better for you. So, make sure to meddle a lot.”
“Understood…?”
“Well, just do what you’ve been doing. As long as you follow your own inclinations, it’s unlikely you’ll fall under the watch of those Martial Alliance fellows.”
The Heavenly Demon opened her arms. She grinned warmly at me.
“I have many more things I want to say, but if I do, it’ll only bring about unfulfilled sentiments. We’ve developed quite a bond, so… I might find myself not wanting to let you go. But that wouldn’t be right. The ones I think I need to catch are all formidable beings. The Seven Evils are even more so. For that reason… I need you. You, being a dog of our temple while still holding a position in the righteous faction that doesn’t raise suspicion. Even your capabilities have now fully impressed me, making you the most suitable choice. You have exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. Who would have guessed that what I picked up out of mere curiosity would grow so big?”
“…….”
“I won’t drag this out any further. Jeok-un.”
She embraced me.
“Go and return. I will be waiting.”
“…Yes!”
