Chapter 15
＂...It seems to be a suicide...＂
＂...The Divine Healer...suspicious...＂
The murmur of conversation drifted past below my feet. I spun, barely managing to regain my balance.
The wall was high, but not insurmountable. If a man in black were to run along it, he would undoubtedly be spotted.
I have to be more careful.
I desperately drew upon my inner energy. Utilizing the Ghost Shadow Step, I slipped between the guards' lines of sight.
The inner buildings came into view.
Just a little further...!
—Thud.
My foot caught on something. I flailed, struggling to steady myself.
But my balance was already lost. My tilting body plummeted downwards.
The ground rushed towards my face. The impact would surely be loud.
But just before I hit, the 29th Disciple snatched my clothing.
＂......＂
I offered a silent nod of gratitude to her as she effortlessly pulled me up onto the wall. She turned her head away with a haughty sniff and pointed to the building's roof.
We immediately launched ourselves upwards, using the wall as a stepping stone to grasp the roof's edge. We scrambled onto the rooftop, finally able to take a breath.
We crossed several buildings in this manner. Thanks to their closely packed arrangement, leaping between them wasn't difficult.
We raced through the moonlight. Finally, we arrived at our destination.
The central building.
The residence of the Leader of the Black Heaven Squad, Maeng Cheon.
The 29th Disciple drew her sword. She slid it into the roof and cleanly sliced through.
We crawled into the revealed, empty space within.
A voice echoed.
A voice filled with rage.
＂Bring me more food! You bastards! Do you think the Sect Leader's words are a joke?!＂
I exchanged glances with the 29th Disciple.
It's him.
The first son of the Black Heaven Squad's Leader...
Maeng So-Un.
. . .
Maeng So-Un gasped for air.
Even moving his body was difficult without circulating his inner energy. This wasn’t any different from before.
Maeng So-Un stopped chewing on the meat and called for a servant.
＂Bring Master Baek.＂
＂Yes, Young Master.＂
＂Who's the Young Master?＂
Thwack.
He grabbed the servant's throat. Maeng So-Un growled at the choking face.
＂I’m the Sect Leader.＂
＂S-Sorry...Sect L-Leader...!＂
＂Get out.＂
The servant hurriedly scrambled out of the room. Maeng So-Un devoured the remaining food.
His flesh continued to expand. But within him, inner energy steadily accumulated.
Maeng So-Un raised his hand. He channeled his inner energy and lightly grasped at the air.
Bang!
The air exploded.
Maeng So-Un grinned.
This is the power. It’s on a completely different level from the Black Heaven Squad’s axe techniques.
Master Baek was right. Who would believe that this martial art was learned in a mere two months?
You foolish father. You should have gotten this for me sooner.
Chuckling, Maeng So-Un noticed a shadow at the door. Even though he hadn't spoken, the figure entered.
＂Master Baek. I haven't given you permission to enter yet.＂
＂Sect Leader. How hurtful. To say that now, what am I to become?＂
＂...Khehehe. Fine. I’ll let it slide. Because it's you, Master Baek.＂
The slender man sat in front of Maeng So-Un. He naturally filled the empty cup with alcohol and asked,
＂Why have you called me at this late hour?＂
＂I have something to ask. Master Baek. As you said, I’ve absorbed my father's vital essence. But my body isn't shrinking. There's no sign of it. Why?＂
＂Sect Leader. Everything takes time.＂
＂Isn't Master Baek here to shorten that time?＂
＂.......＂
The man called Master Baek drained the filled cup in one gulp.
＂Sect Leader. How is the cultivation of the White Demon God progressing?＂
＂As you instructed, I've been devouring stray dogs every night. I've also been constantly consuming food. I can vaguely feel it. That I’m much stronger than those outside.＂
Maeng So-Un chuckled.
＂I like it. But gaining weight like a pig doesn't look good, does it? Master Baek. Didn't you say that these phenomena are just temporary side effects? Then when will these side effects disappear?＂
＂As I said, with time...＂
＂I can't wait!＂
Master Baek fell silent at the booming voice.
Then he quietly spoke.
＂Sect Leader. As I said before, everything has an order. The day we first met, you were searching for a different martial art, not the Black Heaven Squad’s, weren’t you?＂
＂.......＂
＂Since then, I have always given you what you wanted. Calm your anger. Unlike when we first met, haven't you become undeniably stronger? Your current strength is a realm you could never have reached with the Black Heaven Squad’s martial arts. In just two months, you’ve surpassed the First-Rate and are approaching the Peak. Surely you feel the profundity of this martial art yourself?＂
＂...You’re not wrong.＂
＂Sect Leader. Now you've even obtained the vital essence of the Black Heaven Squad. But it would be strange if you could absorb it all at once. It is a martial art honed by the former Leader of the Black Heaven Squad for his entire life. The purity of its Demonic Qi is comparable to that of the Righteous Sect. It's absurd to think you could absorb such a thing instantly, isn't it?＂
＂.......＂
＂You just need to trust me and follow my instructions, as you’ve been doing. Did you store the vital essence as I told you?＂
＂I placed it in my lower Dantian. It formed into a hard pill on its own.＂
Maeng So-Un scoffed.
＂It feels like I’m carrying a Spirit Pill in my body.＂
＂Can’t you see it slowly melting? Sect Leader. There's no need to worry. Once that vital essence is completely absorbed, you too will gain a new body. Patience. Be patient.＂
＂...Hmm.＂
＂Are you diligently practicing the White Demon God’s martial art?＂
＂Is there a need? Master Baek. This body is powerful just by moving. There's no need to learn any Forms or Stances. With a single wave of my hand, the air distorts. What more do I need?＂
＂.......＂
Master Baek covered his mouth and laughed.
＂If that’s what you think, then there's nothing I can do. On a separate note, there's something I need to receive from you...＂
＂The promise? Well, I'll grant it. Having obtained this body, what can't I do?＂
Master Baek.
The contract with the man called the Divine Healer’s disciple.
＂Now that I, Maeng So-Un, have received this martial art and the position that comes with it, I will join the Myriad Divine Sect.＂
＂The Second Demon will be pleased.＂
＂Khehehe. I’m grateful that the Second Demon recognizes my value.＂
＂It's only possible because you were born with a talent for martial arts, Sect Leader. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn't have approached you first.＂
He's right. Maeng So-Un laughed heartily. His anger melted away.
Yes. I am the chosen one. My father was foolish to try to teach me strange things, like the Black Heaven Squad's martial arts, to someone who was chosen.
Now he didn't have to listen to that nagging anymore, so he was only happy.
＂I can eat as much as I want and embrace women, and no one dares to say a word. This is the life of a Master. I haven’t felt this joy since that day.＂
＂If you’re referring to that day...＂
＂There was a guy who constantly irritated me. He was my brother, but he wasn't manly at all. His behavior really bothered me.＂
Maeng So-Un still remembered that day.
How could he forget the day he forced a smile while tears streamed down his face?
＂His voice was so thin when he called ‘Brother, brother.’ So, I just pushed him. I called for my father only after his body, struggling in the lake, went limp.＂
＂...Indeed.＂
＂That is what a Demon is. I was born strong. No one could challenge me. Born as the first son of the Black Heaven Squad, and later becoming the only son, no one could look down on me.＂
Maeng So-Un stopped laughing.
＂Now that I’ve taken the Sect Leader’s position and joined the Ten Thousand Demon Squad, my future is filled with success. The position next to the Second Demon. I will rise to that position at once with this body.＂
＂You are absolutely right. Before that, Sect Leader, may I ask you something?＂
＂What is it?＂
＂Have you perhaps increased your Bodyguards?＂
＂What are you talking about? The Warriors protecting me have disappeared since my father's death. Those bastards suspect me. No one is willing to follow me. On the day I officially inherit the position of Sect Leader, I’ll capture and kill them all.＂
＂...Then who is hiding in the ceiling right now?＂
＂What?＂
Master Baek flicked his hand. Hidden weapons shot out and embedded themselves in the ceiling with a thud.
A part of the ceiling collapsed. A man and a woman tumbled down, quickly regaining their footing.
Master Baek’s expression hardened.
＂...Two? I only sensed one...You're quite skilled with a sword. Where do you come from?＂
＂W-What?! Who are you! How dare you sneak into the Black Heaven Squad's building?! Damn it!＂
Maeng So-Un immediately threw the dining table. With a loud crash, the door shattered.
The intruders dodged the table and sprang up outside the building. The intruder who drew his sword muttered.
＂...I understand. 30th. These damn bastards...they’re worse than beasts.＂
＂.......＂
＂I honed my skills as an Assassin, but this proves I'm still human. Do as you please. I won't stop you.＂
The woman’s sword hummed chillingly.
＂I’ll take care of the other one.＂
At the ominous sound of the sword, Master Baek quietly stood.
＂Call for your men, Sect Leader.＂
＂What?! You’re telling me to call the main squad's Warriors for these insignificant brats?! For those who couldn’t even conceal their presence from Master Baek?!＂
＂The man, I can understand. But the woman is different.＂
Master Baek fiddled with the hidden weapons between his fingers.
＂...A Master. This won't be easy.＂
. . .
In an instant, the 29th Disciple vanished. It was almost simultaneous with the man called Master Baek disappearing.
The clang of swords echoed. Hidden weapons clashed and scattered, and the 29th Disciple’s sword sang.
Masters.
Both of them had reached a realm I couldn't fathom.
The 29th Disciple grabbed the man called Master Baek and threw him into another building. I watched them disappear in an instant, catching my breath.
The 29th Disciple had set the stage.
And I wouldn't dare refuse.
＂Who are you! Tell me who you are!＂
A bloated pig of a man. But despite that, his voice was brimming with inner energy.
As if a massive Qi had taken form. Even though his appearance was repulsive, the magnitude of the presence within him was clear.
A disgusting, unpleasant inner energy.
A beast unaware that its chaotic target was gnawing at its own flesh.
I noticed a subtle Qi within him. I could feel it. As death approached him, the Thousand Veils within me roared.
My senses sharpened. Even the act of exhaling was constricted by pain, and the faint Qi was caught by my heightened senses even more clearly.
「So-hong! I heard that the Divine Healer’s disciple is nearby! I heard he’ll arrive by today!」
The Leader of the Black Heaven Squad.
Maeng Cheon’s Qi.
＂...You.＂
I gritted my teeth.
＂You…you killed your own blood for your selfish desires…and don’t feel even a shred of guilt...?＂
＂...You heard everything? But it doesn't matter. Corpses can’t talk.＂
Maeng So-Un’s body writhed. His size increased slightly, and a tangible Qi shimmered over his flabby flesh.
＂The strong devour the weak. That is the Divine Sect. The Black Heaven Squad is a sect of the Divine Sect. What’s wrong with a stronger son consuming his weakened father?＂
＂...Nothing...Nothing is wrong.＂
＂...What?＂
I drew my sword. I exhaled.
＂You...You're not wrong. You merely acted upon what you’ve always intended to do.＂
＂.......＂
＂So I’m not here to punish you. I, too, abandoned my parents in my heart, so we are the same. Even if I didn’t kill them, it’s the same as killing them in my heart. I can’t condemn someone who has done the same thing. It's just a difference in circumstance.＂
＂What nonsense are you spouting!＂
＂My name is Wang So-hong.＂
I uttered a false name.
It was a lie. Just a name I came up with on the spot, a name belonging to no one.
But...
「If my second son had grown up, I think he would have been like you.」
You made it real.
＂Tonight, I am Maeng Cheon’s second son.＂
＂What...?＂
＂A dead ghost has come to kill the living.＂
A crimson afterimage flickered on the tip of my sword.
＂Come. Maeng So-Un. The strong devour the weak. It’s the same between us. One of us will not live to see the next sunrise.＂