Chapter 18
Jeok Un examined the pill retrieved from his pocket, its surface marred by grime. The pill, reeking of the Black Heaven Leader’s scent, certainly seemed to be a Spirit Pill. However, an odd odor clung to it, as if its creation process itself had been peculiar.
29th spoke.
＂Don’t eat it as is. Who knows what will happen.＂
＂I wish to share it with 29th.＂
＂Eat it all yourself. It’s not something I have a connection with.＂
＂If 29th hadn’t said she’d come with me, I would’ve died under the combined attack of Master Baek and Maeng So-Un...＂
＂Stop sharing. You idiot. Why are you so obsessed with sharing?＂
Obsessed with sharing.
I just want to.
This wasn't something I did alone.
He tried to divide it again a few times, but 29th vehemently refused, even kicking his shin.
＂Listen to me! Stubborn mule!＂
＂......＂
＂You eat it. You eat it! But don't eat it now! Keep it for the time being. That kind of Spirit Pill needs to be processed first.＂
＂...Then I will repay you in another way.＂
＂Ah, forget it. The Wang So-hong's wife role is over. She was the one who owed the debt, right? I’m 29th. I’m not the one who’s owed anything. I’m a third party, so eat that smelly Spirit Pill all by yourself.＂
＂...Then just continue being my wife.＂
＂Wh-what are you saying?! Are you crazy?! Stop being silly! You're not a child...!＂
. . .
29th and I arrived at the Demonic Valley five days later. Looking down at its entrance, 29th wiped her face.
＂I wrote the report as plausibly as possible… There’s nothing to find fault with… You remember what we agreed on, right?＂
＂I do.＂
＂…Let’s go. We have to report. Even if we run, a pursuit squad will follow us.＂
＂I apologize for involving you in this.＂
＂It's fine.＂
29th extended her foot.
＂I did it because I wanted to.＂
We descended along the endless cliff railing, the only hidden path into the Demonic Valley.
We tried to enter our original nest through there. However, no one came to greet us. No one at all.
A chilling silence permeated Demonic Valley. There was no sign of life in the areas we passed.
＂…Something’s strange.＂
The deeper we ventured, the stranger the feeling became.
…As if.
Stepping into the mouth of a beast.
Our nest. The place where 29th and 30th received roll call.
Someone was there. A massive figure was clearly visible even under the faint light of a Night Light Pearl, and its unusually white hair was reminiscent of a white bear.
Someone was held captive in its arms. A stranger. Their aspen-like trembling felt odd.
That person definitely doesn’t seem weak. It feels natural that they’re above me in rank.
But…
What is that… that being who emits no presence?
Why…
Does he smell just like… the '1st Demon'?
＂You seem tense.＂
I flinched.
The voice was heavy. I involuntarily stepped back.
The white-haired man laughed.
＂Come here.＂
I couldn’t refuse. I had the gut feeling that the moment I did, everything would crumble.
Trembling, I stepped forward. I knelt on one knee before him.
＂......＂
＂......＂
Even though I didn’t raise my head, I could tell. He was observing us.
I could feel 29th trembling. For her to tremble like that meant he possessed definite Martial Prowess.
Who was this man before me? I couldn't tell. He wore a mask, making it impossible to even discern his face.
＂Do you know who I am?＂
＂…I don’t know.＂
29th answered. I remained silent.
It would be right for only one person to answer. 29th. Technically, she outranked me.
But the white-haired man didn't seem to like that. He deliberately moved and crouched before me.
＂I know you, though. Jeok Un.＂
＂.......!＂
He knew my name.
My real name, which only the Heavenly Demon and 1st Demon knew.
＂Who… are you…?＂
＂Someone who has been watching you from afar.＂
＂......＂
＂Don’t be nervous. I’ve come to talk. 29th… no. Eun Seol-ran. Should I call you that?＂
29th flinched.
＂Did my father… send you…?＂
＂Your father? I see. I didn’t know he was such an impressive fellow to command me. He’s just a layman to me. Ah, such words would be disrespectful to 30th.＂
＂.......＂
＂I’d like both of you to relax your expressions. And while we’re at it, I’d also like you to tear off those fake faces. 30th. Aren’t you hiding your torn face with bandages anyway? You must be suffocated with half your face covered. You can tear the rest off. I permit it.＂
I must obey.
That was the only thought that came to mind.
I tore off the bandages, revealing my true face.
The white-haired man admired it.
＂Your bone structure is better than before. Furthermore… your appearance has also changed. Is this the effect of Martial Arts, or the effect of that? I wouldn’t know since I don't have it. What I possess is merely half-baked.＂
＂…How much… do you know?＂
＂I know as much as Elder Martial Sister knows. I have quite a few eyes. Not a small number, you see.＂
＂If you speak of Elder Martial Sister…＂
＂There are only two people in the world I call Elder Martial Sister. And one of them is the Cult Leader's Great Dharma Protector. The first disciple who voluntarily withdrew from the power struggle.＂
…1st Demon!
Then, was the man in front of me one of the Heavenly Eight Demons?!
＂No need to be surprised. I’ve told you several times that I’m not here to blame you. Anyway. Eun Seol-ran. Aren’t you going to take that off?＂
29th hesitated, then tore off her Human Skin Mask. As the mask fell to the floor, the white-haired man expressed his admiration.
＂As expected of Eun Yangbaek’s bloodline. If she had been raised as a woman instead of a Martial Artist, her beauty alone would have captivated the world.＂
29th bit her lip. I, too, was speechless.
An unexpectedly beautiful appearance. The ends of her delicate yet venomous eyes resembled those of a ferocious cat. But even that couldn't overcome the beauty held within her long eyelashes.
Beauty surpassed venom. Despite her sharp features, the first impulse was to possess her.
A rare beauty?
It was more than that.
A beauty that made one wonder if they'd ever see such a sight again in their lifetime. Her beauty could rival even the Heavenly Demon's.
＂A beauty and a handsome man gathered in one place. Quite a pleasing sight. I’d like to take both of you with me.＂
＂......＂
＂......＂
＂Don’t be wary. Isn't that right, Blood Demon Squad Leader? Am I such a dangerous person to warrant such caution?＂
＂A-absolutely not! Sir 4th Demon!＂
4th Demon?
And if he's the Blood Demon Squad Leader… isn't he our superior officer?
4th Demon chuckled, stroking the Blood Demon Squad Leader's head.
＂I was almost surprised by your cute little stunt. Trying to send a letter to my sister that they were about to arrive… Didn’t I warn you against that before?＂
＂W-we had an agreement…＂
＂I’m overlooking it once because the Blood Demon Squad Leader is a good person. There won’t be a second time. Hmm? Blood Demon Squad Leader. You know that my sister, who chose the position of Great Dharma Protector, has less power than me, right? Whose favor should you be currying?＂
＂O-of course, Elder 4th Demon… !＂
＂I’m not old enough to be called Elder.＂
＂S-Sir 4th Demon!＂
＂Good. You know how to distinguish right from wrong.＂
4th Demon looked at me askance.
＂Jeok Un. Do you know who you defeated?＂
＂…Maeng Cheon’s first son, Maeng So-Un.＂
＂Maeng So-Un. That’s right. But in other words, it’s different. It would be better to call him the one who mastered the 'White Demon God' rather than that rotten name.＂
White Demon God.
Once again, the mentioned Martial Arts made me fall silent. I still couldn't understand what was what.
＂You seem clueless. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll tell you. Look here. You know the three pillars that support the Divine Sect, right?＂
＂…I know them as the Ten Thousand Demon Squad, the Raging Demon Corps, and the Black Death Clan.＂
＂Well learned. That's exactly right. The three pillars that symbolize the Divine Sect, which every member should know. Then who manages them?＂
＂The Heavenly Eight Demons.＂
＂Precisely. Excellent.＂
4th Demon moved the twig he was holding.
＂The highest authority of the Ten Thousand Demon Squad is the 2nd Demon. My senior brother. What about the Raging Demon Corps? The 3rd Demon is in charge. The fearsome Elder Martial Sister has a firm grip on it. Then who is in charge of the Black Death Clan?＂
＂Sir 4th Demon… who is standing right before me.＂
＂What’s attached above your neck isn’t for decoration. Excellent.＂
He was full of praise. But I realized his compliments weren't sincere.
Just lip service. A bear's foxy act of feigning a lighthearted demeanor.
＂The three pillars are the pillars that support the Divine Sect, and at the same time, they are military institutions that check and balance each other. One of us is usually designated as the Young Leader. Then what happens to those who don’t become the Young Leader?＂
＂.......＂
＂They are all eliminated. It was like that in the previous generation, and the generation before that. The position of the Heavenly Demon’s disciple is such a position. Only the chosen one reigns, and those not chosen lose their lives. Survival of the fittest. The Heavenly Demon’s strong power begins with this successor structure. When I explain it like this, people usually ask, 'Then is there no way to survive even after becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple?'＂
＂.......＂
＂There is. Of course, there is. Elder Martial Sister is the prime example. You just have to give up the power struggle early. If you stay in the position the Heavenly Demon bestows and prove that you have no interest in power, you can save your life no matter who becomes the successor. It was a joyful event for me. My sister, who is said to be the strongest among us, gave up her position herself, so laughter came naturally.＂
4th Demon, who had been chuckling, abruptly stopped laughing.
＂But at the same time, I was also disappointed. Lack of ambition means that one isn’t suited to be the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.＂
＂......＂
＂We all dream of a certain Divine Sect. My senior brother does, and so does Elder Martial Sister. I, too, have a Divine Sect I envision. And this is what keeps me alive. Even if you possess powerful Martial Arts, what meaning is there if you don’t use it? We are ambitious individuals and, at the same time, competitors who must defeat each other to survive. Fellow disciples who aren’t on the same level sometimes cooperate with those who share similar aspirations to establish their own goals. I have that too. 6th Demon, who has agreed to join forces with me. And here comes the part you’ve been wondering about.＂
＂......＂
＂White Demon God. That is the Martial Arts of the Ten Thousand Demon Squad. It’s not publicly known, but it’s an extremely dangerous Martial Arts. It’s one of the Martial Arts that the Cult Leader herself directly warned against teaching as much as possible. The Ten Thousand Demon Squad, the Raging Demon Corps… they have mountains of such techniques.＂
＂Are you saying… the Black Heaven incident… was orchestrated by the Ten Thousand Demon Squad?＂
＂You understood correctly. But, you see, the reason I came here now isn't to talk about the Ten Thousand Demon Squad. My Black Death Clan, with its relatively short history, has few such Martial Arts. It's safe to say that we lack power. I am the weakest of the three military organizations. My forces, and their numbers, are significantly lacking.＂
4th Demon threw the twig behind him.
＂The Cult Leader will step down from her position someday. Less than ten years remain of the term set by the first Heavenly Demon.＂
＂.......＂
＂So, until then, I am personally gathering those who will be my strength. It looks ridiculous for the Leader to be running around himself, but… what can I do since I'm so desperate? That’s why I came here. Two who have reached the Peak. One is a bit… tricky, but the fact that Sister 1st Demon has taken an interest in you means you have that much potential.＂
＂......＂
＂You’re an interesting fellow, Jeok Un. But my goal today is not you. I don’t want to become estranged from my sister, and I might get entangled with the Cult Leader if I'm not careful. Even though my greed for talent is excessive, I don’t eat poisoned apples.＂
4th Demon’s gaze shifted from me.
It landed on 29th.
＂What I want is you. Eun Seol-ran. I will get you out of here.＂
＂.......!＂
＂I will grant you the success your father so desperately desired. Come to the Black Death Clan. I'll employ you as a Squad Leader. Your level is already high, so others will agree. But before that, I have a question. Why did Eun Yangbaek put you in here? With your talent… he would never have made such a choice, would he?＂
29th answered, trembling.
＂I… I didn’t touch Martial Arts until I entered this place.＂
＂…That one sentence makes everything clear. As expected of Eun Yangbaek’s daughter. Then it’s even more splendid. Eun Seol-ran. You have talent. And I can nurture it even further. How can I let go of someone who has reached the extreme of the Peak at such a young age? You’re only one wall away from the Supreme Peak (초절정), so your appearance is truly magnificent. So, if you join me…＂
4th Demon whispered sweetly.
＂You will also bear the title of 4th Demon's disciple, not just Squad Leader.＂
29th’s eyes widened. She trembled at the unbelievable offer.
I, too, couldn’t say anything because I knew what that meant.
4th Demon's disciple. A disciple of the Heavenly Eight Demons.
It was as if an opportunity had fallen right in front of her. Its significance was immense.
Do you know how much weight the discipleship of the Heavenly Eight Demons, the strongest within the Cult, carries?
It was the ultimate opportunity for any Demonic Cult member. The moment she revealed herself as 4th Demon's disciple, most of the renowned Masters within the Cult would bow to her.
A position of honor and power. Not something anyone could covet.
It also meant that 29th’s talent was that extraordinary.
＂Leave the Blood Demon Corps and come with me. Eun Seol-ran.＂
＂I-I…＂
＂If your father is a problem, I’ll personally handle him. Eun Yangbaek. Even if that man exerts some force, he's under me. There might be some Friction with the Ten Thousand Demon Squad to which he belongs, but you're worth that much bloodshed.＂
＂.......＂
＂You must have a future you want to paint, right? Everyone picks up a Sword for what they desire. That's what being a Cult member is about. Now, follow me. I’ll give you the power to realize whatever you envision. You will make a name for yourself as 4th Demon's disciple. You will gain the most glorious position of being able to fight by my side.＂
4th Demon extended his hand.
＂Take my hand. Then I’ll get you out of this dreadful Demonic Valley right now…＂
＂What the hell are you doing?＂
A familiar voice. I turned my head.
A blazing form was visible in the distance. Its bloody afterimage was so deep that for a moment, I had the illusion of a sea of blood moving.
＂That one is personally chosen by the Cult Leader. It’s not someone you can touch.＂
＂…? No, Sister. You’ve got it wrong…＂
＂This one is mine.＂
1st Demon.
One of the Heavenly Eight Demons grabbed my shoulder. I was pulled abruptly and collided with something soft.
I was embraced.
Forcibly.
＂I personally taught him, and I personally broke him. He's my toy. No one can take this one away from me. If you try to touch him despite that…＂
＂… ?＂
＂I’ll personally break those fingers of yours.＂
＂… ???＂
4th Demon, suppressing his laughter, looked at me.
＂It’s the first time I’ve seen Sister react like this.＂
＂......＂
I kept silent.
＂Sir 1st Demon.＂
＂I didn’t tell you to open your mouth, you stupid bastard. Shut up.＂
＂Sir 4th Demon came to recruit 29th, not me.＂
1st Demon stopped abruptly.
＂… What?＂