Chapter 18
**
I turned the pill I took from my pocket around. It looked like it was coated in a layer of grime.
The scent of the Black Heaven Sect leader clung to it, so it must truly be a spirit pill. However, it radiated an odd smell as if the process of its creation itself was bizarre.
Twenty-Nine spoke up.
“Don’t eat it as it is. You never know what might happen.”
“I want to share it with you,” I said.
“Just eat it all yourself. It’s not something I have a connection to.”
“If you hadn’t offered to go with me, I would have been dead after being attacked by Teacher Bai and Maeng-so-un…”
“Just stop sharing already. What are you so worked up about not being able to share?”
It wasn’t that I was anxious about not being able to share.
I just wanted to, that’s all.
Didn’t I do this alone?
I tried to split it in half a few more times, but Twenty-Nine adamantly refused. In the end, she kicked me in the shins.
“Listen! You’re so stubborn!”
“……”
“You eat it. Eat it now! But don’t eat it right now! Just hold onto it. Spirit pills like that need to be processed once.”
“…Then I’ll repay you in another way.”
“Ah, enough. The role of Sir So-hong’s wife is over. She was the one who got the debt, right? I’m Twenty-Nine. Not the one who owes debts. I’m a third party, so that smelly spirit pill is all yours.”
“…Then just keep being a wife.”
“W-what did you just say?! Are you crazy?! Didn’t you feel that slap?! You’re acting like a child…!”
After five days, Twenty-Nine and I arrived at Demon Valley. Looking down at the entrance, she wiped her face.
“I wrote the report as plausibly as I could… Didn’t get caught on anything… You know that, right?”
“I know.”
“…Let’s go. We need to report. Even if we run away, pursuers will catch up anyway.”
“I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
“Enough.”
Twenty-Nine stretched her legs.
“I wanted to do this too.”
We carefully moved down the endless cliffs, heading towards the only hidden path inside Demon Valley.
As we passed, we attempted to enter our original Nest, but there was no one waiting for us, not a soul in sight.
The air inside Demon Valley was eerily still. There were no signs of life in the places we had passed.
“…Something feels off.”
The more we moved inside, the stranger the feeling became.
…As if we were stepping into the mouth of a beast.
Our Nest. The place where Twenty-Nine and Thirty reported.
There was someone there. Their enormous figure was faintly visible over the dim glow, and their unusually white hair resembled that of a white bear.
I could see someone clinging to their arm. A person I had never seen before, trembling like a willow.
That person didn’t seem weak at all. It felt natural that they held a higher status than I did.
But…
What was that emotionless figure?
Why…
Does it smell like ‘Ilma’?
“You seem tense.”
I flinched.
The voice was heavy. Without realizing, I took a step back.
The white-haired man smiled.
“Come here.”
I couldn’t refuse. The moment I did, I had a sense that everything would crumble down.
Trembling, I stepped forward. I knelt before him on one knee.
“……”
“……”
Even without raising my head, I could tell. He was watching us.
I could feel Twenty-Nine trembling. If she was shaking, it meant he had a certain level of power.
Who was this man before me? I had no idea. He wore a mask, so I couldn’t even see his face.
“Do you know who I am?”
“…I don’t know.”
Twenty-Nine answered. I remained silent.
Only one person should answer. Twenty-Nine. After all, she’s technically my superior.
However, the white-haired man seemed displeased with that. He shifted his body to squat in front of me.
“I know who you are, Jeok-un.”
“…….!”
He knew my name.
The true name I had that only the Heavenly Demon and Ilma knew.
“Who… are you…?”
“I’m someone who has been watching you from afar.”
“……”
“Don’t be tense. I’m here to have a conversation. Twenty-Nine… or should I say Eun Seol-ran? Should I call you that?”
Twenty-Nine flinched.
“Did my father… send you…?”
“Your father? Well, I didn’t know he was such a formidable author that he could command me. To me, he’s just an ordinary man. Ah, saying such things would be rude to Thirty, wouldn’t it?”
“…….”
“I’d like both of you to relax your expressions. It would also be nice if you could tear off those fake faces too. Thirty. You’ve been hiding a torn face with bandages, right? Covering half of your face must be suffocating. You’re allowed to tear it off. I grant you permission.”
I felt compelled to obey him.
That was the only thought I could entertain.
I tore at the bandages, revealing my true face.
The white-haired man gasped in admiration.
“Your bone structure has improved. Plus… your appearance has changed too. Is this the effect of martial arts, or is it from something else? I can’t know since I’ve only had half.”
“…How much do you know?”
“I know as much as the master’s disciples. I have quite the eye. Not a small one, you know.”
“So, you call yourself a master disciple?”
“I only call two people in the world ‘master diasiples,’ and one of them is the great law of the Master. A student who withdrew from the power struggle.”
…Ilma!
So does that mean this person standing before me is a member of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists?!
“There’s no need to be surprised. How many times do I have to say I’m not here to blame anyone? That aside, Eun Seol-ran, won’t you take it off?”
Twenty-Nine hesitated, but she tore off her mask. Along with the mask scattered on the ground, the white-haired man marveled.
“You must indeed be of the Eun lineage. If you’d been raised as a woman rather than as a warrior, your beauty alone would have already ruled the world.”
Twenty-Nine bit her lips. I, too, couldn’t find words to say.
Her beauty was astounding beyond my wildest imagination. With delicate yet fierce-looking eyes that resembled a feral cat, they couldn’t overcome the beauty held within those long eyelashes.
Her beauty transcended mere fierceness. I felt an urge to possess her even with that sharp appearance.
A rare beauty?
That’s an understatement.
Is this someone I’ll only see once in my life—one that can rival even the Heavenly Demon for beauty?
“A beauty and a handsome man gathered in one place. Quite a lovely sight. I want to take both with me.”
“……”
“……”
“Don’t be on guard. Aren’t you, Blood Demon Leader? Am I dangerous enough to warrant such wariness?”
“Absolutely not! Master!”
Master?
And the Blood Demon Leader… doesn’t that make him our highest-ranking member?
The Master chuckled, patting the Blood Demon Leader’s head.
“You nearly startled me with your cuteness. Plan to send a letter to my sister once they arrive… Didn’t I warn you not to do that before?”
“Hey, that was promised…”
“Blood Demon Leader likes people and will forgive just this once. You know that my sister, who chose the position of the great law, is aware she has less power than I do, right? Whose gaze should she behold?”
“Of course, Master!”
“I’m not old enough to be called ‘Master’ yet.”
“Master!”
“You have good judgment.”
The Master cast a sidelong glance at me.
“Jeok-un, do you know who you took down?”
“…The first son of Maeng-cheon, Maeng-so-un.”
“Maeng-so-un. Exactly. But stated differently, it’s more accurate to refer to him as ‘White Demon Body.'”
White Demon Body.
With that mention of the martial arts, I fell silent again. I still couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
“Seems like you don’t know anything. I’ll gladly teach you since I’m in a good mood. Now, tell me. You know about the three pillars that uphold the new church, right?”
“…Manma Sect, Nachal Sect, and Heuksa Sect.”
“Good job. You learned well. Those are the three pillars every believer should know. So who manages those?”
“The Heavenly Eight Martial Artists.”
“Correct. Nicely done.”
The Master then moved the branch he was holding.
“The highest authority of the Manma Sect is the Second Demon. He’s my older brother. What about Nachal Sect? It’s led by the Fifth Demon. Their hold is quite strict. Now, who is responsible for the Heuksa Sect?”
“It’s the Master right before my eyes…”
“You’re not just here for show. Great job.”
He lavished me with praise, yet I sensed it wasn’t sincere.
Only superficial flattery. The playful demeanor of a fox disguising a bear.
“The three pillars are forces that support the new church while restricting one another. Among us, one is usually chosen as the small sect leader. So what happens to those who can’t become the small sect leader?”
“…….”
“They all get eliminated. It’s been the case in the past as well as the one before that. Being a disciple of the Heavenly Demon means such a position. Only the chosen ones can reign, and those who are not perish. Survival of the fittest. The Heavenly Demon’s powerful strength starts from this succession struggle. People often ask: is there no way to survive after becoming a disciple of the Heavenly Demon?”
“…….”
“There is. Of course, there is. The Master represents that. Just abandon the power struggle. By remaining in the position bestowed upon you by the Heavenly Demon and proving that you have no interest in power, anyone can preserve their life. I was delighted when our most talented sister chose to give up her position. I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.”
The Master, who had been laughing, abruptly stopped.
“But at the same time, I was also disappointed. Having no ambition means you don’t fit as a disciple of the Heavenly Demon.”
“……”
“We all aspire to our own vision of a new church. So do my older brother and the Master disciples. I also have a vision for the new church. And that sustains my life. What meaning is there in possessing great martial arts if I don’t use them? We are all ambitious, and at the same time, we must overcome each other to survive. Disciples who cannot stand on the same line might collaborate with those who share similar ideals to achieve that vision. I have my own group I have sworn to work together with, the Six Demons. This is the part you’ve been curious about.”
“……”
“White Demon Body. That is the martial art of the Manma Sect. Although it’s not publicly known, it’s an extremely dangerous martial art. It’s one of the few martial arts the Master has explicitly warned not to teach.”
Manma Sect and Nachal Sect, a mountain of issues piled high.
“Is the matter regarding the Black Heaven Sect something the Manma Sect plotted?”
“You’ve understood me correctly. But, listen carefully. The reason I’m here isn’t to discuss the Manma Sect. My Heuksa Sect, which has a relatively short history, lacks such martial arts. You can say I’m fairly weak. I am the weakest amongst the three military organizations. Lacking in both influence and numbers.”
The Master tossed the branch behind him.
“The Master will eventually step down. The term established by the first Heavenly Demon has less than ten years left.”
“…….”
“So until then, I’m personally gathering those who can support me. It may seem silly for a leader to be running around, but I can’t help it since the situation is urgent. That’s why I’m here. An apex existence. One is a bit… tricky, but for the older sister I’ve had my eye on, that means an abundance of potential.”
“……”
“You’re an interesting guy, Jeok-un. But my goal here today isn’t you. I don’t want to become awkward with the older sister, and I might accidentally entangle myself with the Master. Even if I have an excessive thirst for talent, I won’t consume a poisoned apple.”
The Master’s gaze shifted from me to Twenty-Nine.
“What I want is you, Eun Seol-ran. I’ll get you out of here.”
“…….!”
“I’ll grant you the success that your father so desperately wanted. Come join the Heuksa Sect. I’ll employ you as a leader. You have already reached a high level, so others will surely agree. But before that, I have to ask. Why did Eun Yang-baek place you here?”
Twenty-Nine trembled as she answered.
“I hadn’t touched martial arts until before coming here.”
“…With that one statement, everything makes sense. Being the daughter of Eun Yang-baek, it wouldn’t be out of line. In that case, that’s even more remarkable. Eun Seol-ran, you possess talent. And I can elevate that talent even further. Who would let go of someone who has reached the pinnacle at such a young age? Just one wall separates you from utter perfection, and that appearance is truly magnificent. So if you join me…”
The Master whispered sweetly.
“You’ll carry the title of a Master’s disciple along with that of a leader.”
Twenty-Nine’s eyes widened. She trembled at the unbelievable proposal.
I was also rendered speechless, knowing the weight of that offer.
Being a disciple of the Master. Being a disciple of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists.
It’s like a rare opportunity fell right before my eyes.
How significant that was.
Do you know how heavyweight it is to be a disciple of the best in the church?
For every member of the Demon Cult, it’d be like the best chance ever. The moment you declare yourself a disciple of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists, most famous masters in the church would bow to you.
A position of honor and power. Not something anyone can reach easily.
It also indicated how exceptional Twenty-Nine’s talent was.
“Leave the Blood Demon sect and come with me, Eun Seol-ran.”
“I… I…”
“If your father is the issue, I’ll personally take care of him. Eun Yang-baek. That person has some clout, but he’s beneath me. He might have some friction with the Manma Sect he belongs to, but you can afford such a loss.”
“…….”
“You must have a future you wish to realize, right? Everyone picks up the sword for what they desire. That’s what it means to be a believer. Now, come with me. I’ll give you the strength to realize whatever you wish for. You’ll earn the most glorious position where you can fight by my side.”
The Master reached out.
“Take my hand. Then I’ll get you out of this hellish Demon Valley…”
“What nonsense are you stirring up now?”
A familiar voice. I turned my head.
From beyond, a blazing shape was visible. That crimson flickering shadow felt as though a sea of blood were churning.
“That guy is someone personally marked by the Master. You can’t touch him.”
“……? No, older sister. You’re misunderstanding something…”
“This guy belongs to me.”
Ilma.
A member of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists grabbed my shoulder. I was pulled in, colliding with something soft.
I was forced into an embrace.
“I taught him directly, and I control him myself. He’s my toy. No one can take him from me. And if you dare to reach out…”
“……?”
“I’ll personally break that finger.”
“………???”
The Master tried to hold back laughter while looking at me.
“I’ve never seen my sister react that way.”
“……”
I held my tongue.
“Ilma.”
“I didn’t say you could speak, you dumbass. Keep quiet.”
“Master came to recruit Twenty-Nine, not me.”
Ilma froze.
“…What?”
