Chapter 19
＂Pffft! Sister! Won't you take off that mask just once? Your expression must be priceless!＂
＂Shut up.＂
＂This is the first time I've seen Sister speak like that.＂
＂It's the Cult Leader's order.＂
＂Aren't you mixing in a bit of personal interest?＂
＂I told you to shut up.＂
The 1st Demon growled. 4th Demon shrugged.
＂The situation itself is amusing, but sadly, I'm not that bold. You know, don't you, Sister? I'm not crazy enough to covet the Cult Leader's things. No matter how tempting it is, I know where to draw the line, right?＂
＂......＂
＂I came here to recruit the 29th, who defeated Master Baek. The Blood Demon Corps is yours, Sister, but technically, it belongs to all the Heavenly Eight Demons, don't you think?＂
＂Nonsense.＂
＂Sister, just give in a little. I'm not here to take your pet puppy, am I? Someone like the 29th is an overflowing talent for you, isn't she?＂
4th Demon leaned in.
＂The Leader of the Black Death Clan has come all this way, so please show some consideration. I have a reputation to uphold, you know, Sister?＂
＂...Sigh.＂
The 1st Demon stepped back. Realizing what that meant, the 29th turned her head toward 4th Demon.
4th Demon smiled.
＂I'd like to give you time to think...but we're not that generous. So decide right now. Well, you'll know which side is more advantageous, right?＂
＂.......＂
The 29th turned to me with trembling eyes. At her unspoken question, I chuckled softly.
This is it. This must be her opportunity. And if she hesitates, I should push her forward, shouldn't I?
I pushed aside the camaraderie we had built. I whispered softly to her.
＂Go. 29th.＂
＂......!＂
The 29th bowed deeply to 4th Demon. A somewhat bitter look swept over me.
＂Master.＂
Even her title changed. She spoke in a trembling voice.
＂I have a request.＂
＂Well, I'll grant you anything reasonable. You're worth it.＂
＂Could you replace the Spiritual Medicine that the 30th has with a proper one?＂
＂...Hmm?＂
4th Demon flicked his hand. I, too, was taken aback by the unexpected request.
4th Demon, looking intrigued, beckoned me.
＂If you have it, bring it here.＂
I pulled out the black pill from my pocket. Something that could hardly be called Spiritual Medicine.
＂...Oh?＂
4th Demon exclaimed. The 1st Demon's eyes narrowed.
＂You idiot. Where did you get that?＂
＂I obtained it after defeating Maeng So-Un.＂
＂...They were planning on making a puppet out of the Ten Thousand Demon Squad from the beginning. Still playing such dreadful tricks.＂
＂Pffft. Sister, you knew, didn't you? That's why you sent the Blood Demon Corps.＂
＂I was merely following the Cult Leader's orders, trying to eliminate those who were scheming. No matter how urgent the situation, if they request help from the Orthodox Sect, they must be cut down. Traitors. Those are the ones our Blood Demon Corps and Blood Death Squad deal with. No matter how popular the Leader of Black Heaven Squad is, they shouldn't cross the line.＂
＂The Leader of Black Heaven Squad is the only one who's truly pitiful. He reached out, but didn't actually join hands with the Orthodox Sect, and even the helping hand he found was a scheme of the Ten Thousand Demon Squad.＂
＂The act of reaching out itself is the problem, 4th Demon. It's an irreversible mistake.＂
The Leader of Black Heaven Squad.
Maeng Cheon.
From that conversation, I could understand why he was targeted by the Blood Demon Corps.
His son was suffering from an unknown illness, so he would have reached out for help. But even then, unable to find the cause, he must have tried to contact the Orthodox Sect, deceiving the Heavenly Demon.
He must have attempted contact with a glimmer of hope, but ultimately failed. He later reached someone claiming to be a disciple of the Divine Healer, but even that person was the one who had taught his son the White Demon God technique in the first place.
An intertwined power struggle.
The Ten Thousand Demon Squad deceived the Leader of Black Heaven Squad, even pretending to be his savior, to swallow up the entire Black Heaven Squad Sect.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the Leader of Black Heaven Squad was a victim of that scheme.
＂Jeok Un. Do you know what this is?＂
＂I don't know.＂
4th Demon laughed.
＂This is, you see, one of the forms of the White Demon God, the 'Ritual' form. It allows for rapid Martial Arts advancement, but in the end, one becomes a mere 'Pouch' carrying an Elixir.＂
＂...What does that...?!＂
＂The conditions for learning it are demanding. Several conditions must be met. Is it efficient? Not really. However, the Ritual form of the White Demon God allows one to store gathered Qi in the form of a pill. That's what 'Ritual' means.＂
＂...A storage vessel.＂
＂Yes. A storage vessel. By the looks of it, this is the Leader of Black Heaven Squad's Qi. It's not purely cultivated from the White Demon God. Its purity is unbelievable for Demonic Arts.＂
＂This can be recycled. They must have extracted it before it fully merged with the White Demon God. Since they took the Qi and condensed it into a dot...it would be more appropriate to call this the inner core of a Spiritual Beast rather than an Elixir.＂
＂Now you understand why the White Demon God is called a forbidden Martial Art? You can mass-produce Elixirs using people's lives. Of course, they are Elixirs filled with impurities. The moment you consume it, breaking through the Peak Realm becomes impossible. Your Qi becomes turbid, and your mind dulls. But it has the advantage of mass-producing First-Rate Warriors comparable to those at the threshold of the Peak Realm. It's incredibly helpful in war. You did well not to eat it, Jeok Un. If you had swallowed this, you would have been stuck at the First-Rate Realm for the rest of your life, no matter how hard you tried.＂
Cold sweat trickled down my back. The 1st Demon clicked his tongue.
＂If you see something lying on the road, even if it looks like an Elixir, be suspicious. Even a dog wouldn't just gobble it up.＂
＂If you're going to worry, just worry, and if you're going to scold, just scold, Sister.＂
＂It's my teaching. Don't interfere.＂
＂Khehehe. Alright.＂
4th Demon fiddled with the Elixir.
＂Turning this into a proper Elixir would require doing something that doesn't make financial sense. It costs the same as creating a high-grade Elixir.＂
＂.......＂
＂But I can't say anything that makes me look cheap right after taking in a new disciple. I'll accept the terms. But who will take this?＂
The 29th bowed her head deeply.
＂Please give it to the 30th, Master.＂
＂Alright. I'll do that.＂
＂.......＂
＂You look like you're wondering why I'm not objecting, but is there a need to object?＂
4th Demon smiled broadly.
＂There's no reason to stop her from forming a connection with your disciple, Sister. She's in the Blood Demon Corps now, but who knows what will happen later.＂
＂She's not my disciple, 4th Demon. If you speak out of turn one more time, I'll split your head open.＂
＂Khehehe. Well, I'll call her a toy then, Sister. Disciple, do you need time?＂
＂...I would be grateful if you would give me some.＂
＂Sister, let's step aside. The little ones want to say their goodbyes.＂
＂Don't touch me, bear cub.＂
4th Demon dragged the 1st Demon away. The Blood Demon Squad Leader followed suit.
The 29th turned to me. She lowered her head slightly as if saddened, then lifted it again vigorously.
＂You were right. Your real face is much better, isn't it?＂
＂...The same goes for the 29th.＂
＂Don't you resent me? I'm running away alone.＂
＂Why would I resent you?＂
I was incredibly happy that she had seized the opportunity.
＂I'm just indebted to you, 29th.＂
＂I feel the same way. We're even, aren't we? If you hadn't insisted on entering the mansion that day, this wouldn't have happened.＂
＂Even so, I owe you more.＂
＂...Stubborn.＂
The 29th brushed back her loose hair.
＂If you owe me a lot, come and repay it. After you get out of here, okay? Since you're the 1st Demon's disciple, you'll find a way out somehow, right?＂
＂Of course, 29th.＂
＂...Call me Seol-ran. And add 'Senior' after it.＂
＂Why 'Senior'?＂
＂Because I'm your senior, idiot. Both in the Blood Demon Corps and out there, right?＂
The 29th grabbed my clothes.
She pulled me closer.
＂...When you escape from Demonic Valley, come find me. I'll make a place for you by 4th Demon's side. Let's stay together like we did here. Don't think about going to another sect. I don't want to cut you down.＂
＂Will I be the one being cut down?＂
＂Of course. 30th. You won't be able to beat me. When you get stronger, I'll be even further above you.＂
The 29th smiled. I smiled back.
＂I'm not the 30th, but Jeok Un. Senior Seol-ran.＂
＂...Much better than 30th.＂
＂I look forward to our reunion.＂
＂Yeah.＂
The 29th, Eun Seol-ran, turned around.
＂See you later, Jeok Un.＂
She left. 4th Demon and the Blood Demon Squad Leader also disappeared.
Only the 1st Demon remained, striking my head.
＂Even a puppy would listen better than you.＂
＂......＂
＂You look like you don't understand, so I'll teach you everything. And then you'll die.＂
＂...Is that alright to do to your cherished toy? I'll break.＂
The 1st Demon drew his sword.
＂I should just cut off your head and throw it to the beasts.＂
＂I'm sorry.＂
＂Tsk.＂
The 1st Demon examined my body.
＂You've somehow crossed one Wall. The threshold of the Peak Realm...you're not there yet. Qi Body Unification. Since they're not working together, you haven't properly crossed even one Wall. Can you draw Sword Qi?＂
＂No, sir.＂
＂I thought so. Your mind is ahead of your body...you had an epiphany, didn't you? What was it?＂
＂...Just...＂
I told him about the Three Treasures Sword Technique. The 1st Demon sighed.
＂The sword you swung for ten years with a faint hope has unexpectedly become useful. It's a fortunate opportunity. It's right to see it that way. But don't think something like this will happen twice. Hard work is your only path to survival.＂
＂I'll keep that in mind.＂
＂I think the miraculous part can be filled with the Elixir 4th Demon will bring...but the completion of your Forms and Stances and your physique are still blurry. Show me your back. I'll examine your body.＂
The 1st Demon channeled Qi into my body.
＂Thousand Veils is still moving little by little. It seems to have taken root, but it's still expanding. You...you must still be in pain, right?＂
＂I can endure it.＂
＂Endure what? If I transferred the pain you're feeling to a sinner, they'd beg to be killed within a moment. You idiot. If you're hurt, just say you're hurt.＂
＂Would you look after me then?＂
＂Don't get cocky, you idiot.＂
I got hit, but I was actually happy.
That the 1st Demon had personally come to protect me from 4th Demon.
＂I don't like your eyes. I should gouge them out.＂
＂...Cherished toy...＂
He kicked me in the stomach.
I rolled around in pain.
＂How was your first mission?＂
＂.......＂
＂Something bothering you?＂
＂I didn't kill the Leader of Black Heaven Squad.＂
＂And?＂
＂...Even if I had drawn my sword, I don't think I could have killed him.＂
＂In terms of skill, or in terms of your heart?＂
＂Both, I think.＂
The 1st Demon straddled me, sitting on my back as he muttered.
＂You are the Cult Leader's dog. Dogs shouldn't have thoughts. Thinking is for humans.＂
＂.......＂
＂If you're told to kill, just kill. There is no other option, Jeok Un. And like this time, forming unnecessary relationships with your target is forbidden.＂
＂...Yes. I understand.＂
＂You look like you don't understand a thing. You idiot.＂
The 1st Demon sighed.
＂Why did I receive something like this?＂
＂...It wasn't Sir 1st Demon, but the Cult Leader who...＂
＂I'll just sew your mouth shut.＂
＂I'm sorry.＂
. . .
＂The Blood Demon Squad Leader will fill the empty spot. Until a mission comes down, focus on your training. Train and train until you can freely wield at least the second form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts.＂
The 1st Demon also left. After that, I focused on my training.
The 29th's empty spot felt hollow, but there was nothing I could do. All I could do was pray for her future.
The second form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts, Soul Chasing Technique.
I began to master the applied forms beyond the basic style. However, the first application of this Soul Chasing Technique, 'Demon Countering Strike', required a suitable opponent for proper practice.
There was no one to ask for help within Demonic Valley. There were only those with sharp edges, and most of them didn't even appreciate the food brought to them.
So I turned a blind eye to those who weren't grateful. I just hoped that the newcomer would be someone similar to the 29th.
However, my Spiritual Medicine arrived faster than someone to fill the 29th's empty spot.
＂It's 4th Demon's order. Accept it, 30th.＂
The Blood Demon Squad Leader himself came to find me. He handed me a wooden box with a somewhat hesitant look.
＂...If you get the chance, could you put in a good word for me to the person connected to this?＂
＂What kind of words, sir?＂
＂That he does good work...something along those lines.＂
＂I'll try my best.＂
＂Haha! Thank you!＂
The Blood Demon Squad Leader left with a face like any middle manager you'd see anywhere. I opened the wooden box in my Nest.
A fragrant scent wafted into my nose. The murky black Elixir was gone, replaced by a dark bluish Elixir.
This is an Elixir.
A lump of Qi containing the Leader of Black Heaven Squad's Qi.
I fiddled with the Elixir. After checking that no one was around...
---Gulp.
I swallowed the Elixir.