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Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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Seong Ja-myeong said.
"Third Brother, you're thorough with the basics."
"Since I don't have much to begin with, I just try to build up what I can."
"Impressive. So many get lost later because they neglect the fundamentals. Of course, I'm hardly the vessel to teach it myself..."
Seong Ja-myeong extended his hand into the darkness.
"The first form of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art is Ghost Hand One Demon. As you know, Third Brother, it's a fist technique made for smashing enemies. But among its variations, there's one that uses the horn."
"You mean Demon Horn...?"
"Exactly. Third Brother, the first form, Ghost Hand One Demon, has the core Ghost Hand One Demon and four variations you can deploy from it, right?"
Seong Ja-myeong clenched at empty air.
"White Snake, to grip the enemy."
He spun his body and struck the side of an invisible foe.
"Fang Pierce, driving the elbow in."
His qi-infused arm vanished for an instant in the air.
"Shake Blood, the feint to deceive the enemy."
His extended leg kicked the gut of an unseen opponent.
"And it ends with Demon Horn, the forceful horn strike."
"..."
His form was flawless. Regardless of anything else, one thing was clear.
He was stronger than me. He'd clearly trained in martial arts for years.
"Impressive."
"I'm embarrassed. It's hardly a skill worth showing off proudly. Even after learning it, I'm just mimicking from afar."
Seong Ja-myeong wiped the tip of his nose.
"But luckily, I can offer you a few pointers, Third Brother. Come on, let's take it slow."
"Is it really okay to help me? I wouldn't be stealing your personal time...?"
"Third Brother, didn't you help me first?"
Seong Ja-myeong grinned.
"More than anything, don't think of it as a favor, Third Brother."
"Pardon?"
"It's an investment. I have a feeling you'll climb higher than me."
He winked.
"When you look down on the world someday, just remember I lent a hand."
"...What are you talking about?"
"Beats me. What am I even saying?"
Seong Ja-myeong laughed.
I laughed along.
"Alright, let's practice, Third Brother."
I followed his lead, extending my hand and matching his footwork.
I thrust forward.
Forward...
Thrust.
...
Boom!!!
My body slammed into a tree. Agonizing pain raced through me, but I stood right back up.
I dodged the incoming sword. My ear was half severed, but I charged anyway. I crashed into Number 2's body, and we rolled across the ground together.
"You crazy bastard!"
I had to leap in shorter than the gap in his sword.
I couldn't give the enemy favorable space.
Think. Don't stop thinking, Red Cloud.
Move.
If you stop moving, you'll really die.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
First Form.
Ghost Hand One Demon.
I swung my hand. Number 2 jerked his head back.
My fist struck empty air, but I didn't let him go.
I grabbed his falling body.
"White Snake, to grip the enemy."
I slammed my hand down following the memory. I seized his escaping wrist and twisted it hard.
Threw him.
"Kuhk?!"
I pursued the flying Number 2. The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword, steadying his form, pierced my shoulder.
Pain screamed a warning. My vision blacked out for a moment. When I came to, my left arm was floating in the air.
It was severed. But I snatched it midair and forced it back into place, howling.
Don't stop.
Red Cloud.
Once you start running...
---Never stop!
"You crazy bastard?!"
Number 2 twisted his sword. An unfamiliar technique flew at me. I didn't even consider dodging.
I just focused a little. Just a bit. On the panic showing in his expression.
A shake. The crumbling face amid panic and tension.
If it shakes, I can do it. I can chase what's right in front of me.
I spun my body. Even with the sword buried deep in my waist, it didn't matter.
Bleeding. Desperately.
"Fang Pierce, driving the elbow in."
---Smash with sincerity!
"Kuuk?!"
I finally landed a solid hit. Gasping in pain, I charged forward.
The follow-up Ghost Hand One Demon barely grazed his jaw. Too shallow. I need to close in more.
But he knows my openings. Blind aggression has its limits.
So.
So.
"Shake Blood, the feint to deceive the enemy."
Deceive.
"Hup!"
I took the Ghost Hand One Demon stance. Lowered my body. Gathered explosive power in my legs, as if I'd launch forward any second.
I unleashed killing intent.
Then froze my body.
Number 2 swung his sword reflexively. He predicted my trajectory and slashed ahead.
My neck.
He was aiming for my neck.
But I didn't advance. I gathered all my strength and searched for an opening.
For his stance to crumble. For this feint to draw out his gap.
"What?!"
It crumbled.
And now.
"Demon Horn, the forceful horn strike."
I spun and kicked.
With everything I had.
"Kuuaak?!"
I chased Number 2 as he flew back, dropping his sword. His reflexive Ghost Hand One Demon grazed my cheek.
Blood sprayed. He swung his hand again, refusing to go down easy.
Ghost Hand One Demon's White Snake.
My seized shoulder ground like it would shatter.
"Kruuuk?!"
Bone cracked. Definitely. A fracture starting from the shoulder.
He was squeezing all his internal energy to crush my shoulder.
Internal Heavy Hand Technique.
Destroying me from the inside out.
"You filthy bastard!!! A nobody like you!!! A nobody like youuuu!!!!"
My whole body grinds. I can't breathe.
The recovering pain hurts more than the initial strike. It squeezes my throat like wringing a rag.
My vision flickered. I plunged into total darkness, then saw his silhouette again.
My knees buckled. The gradual kneel had somehow reversed our positions.
He looked down at me.
And I looked up at him...
Like that...
Like that...
"It's an investment. I have a feeling you'll climb higher than me."
...Like that.
I'm sick of that kind of talk.
"Kruuuuuuk...!"
I wrung out my internal energy. Heavenly Tribulation's agony burst blood from my body. My eyes bulged red, and something poured endlessly from my nose.
Vision blurred. Death loomed. But I couldn't collapse.
Don't stop.
Red Cloud. Please.
If there's nothing, twist it out anyway.
"When you look down on the world someday, just remember I lent a hand."
If you start, see it through.
"Wha...wha...what the... what is this...?!"
If you have nothing, drag out what little you do have.
"In that shitty body... fuck... with that worthless internal energy...?!"
Don't pick the moment to surpass.
If it must be done, now.
I only ever have now.
So...
"A third-rate like you...?!"
Surpass.
Now.
I straightened my buckling knee. Clenched my fist.
Tighter than ever.
Beginning and end.
End and beginning.
I vomited blood amid it. Howled and shouted.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
First Form.
Ghost Hand One Demon.
My flying fist vanished into a bloody afterimage. Number 2's face twisted, and the hand gripping my shoulder released.
Something touched my fist's tip. Flesh. Then bone.
A symphony of crumpling nose and flying teeth.
I spun my body. A red shadow trailed my movement.
A straight punch smashing into the crumbling foe.
A red flower blooming in the mud.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ghost Hand One Demon.
My bellow fused with the technique.
...
"First Demon."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
Snap.
Bamboo rustled in the garden. The Heavenly Demon, sipping tea amid the sound of flowing water, grinned.
"I wonder if our little mutt is dead or alive?"
First Demon answered flatly.
"He's alive."
"Did you check?"
"No. No cheating."
"Then why are you so sure? Didn't you say yourself he's just a mere mortal?"
"I did."
"Did you sneak him an elixir or something?"
"As I said, no cheating."
"Hmm. I see. I felt like you wanted that guy dead."
"..."
"Not denying it, huh? So, a change of heart? What sparked it?"
"My feelings haven't changed. I still see him as a tiresome, useless talent."
"Then why are you so sure he's alive?"
Why indeed.
First Demon gazed at the teacup before her. The green tea brimmed right to the edge, untouched.
One sip would relieve that precarious tension. But she didn't.
Sometimes, just looking was enough to ease it.
That guy was like that.
"The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art is a technique you created, isn't it, Cult Leader?"
"That's right. I put real effort into it. Added plenty of amusing twists too."
"I've learned it too, so I know. I haven't mastered it, but I keep it in check."
"It's an incomplete art. The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art was never meant to have an end. You can escape its demonic nature as your realm advances, but..."
The Heavenly Demon rested her chin on her hand. She chuckled.
"Few reach a higher realm with just the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art. And it's hard. Only madmen can achieve great success. I even abandoned it midway. Those who've mastered the seventh form can be counted on one hand, and only you and I have the eighth, right?"
"You're right, Cult Leader."
"Why bring that up?"
"As I said, I couldn't master it. Many reasons, but ultimately, a lack of patience."
The Heavenly Demon yawned.
"What patience? It's suicidal. As I said, it's meant to burn your life to drag down experts..."
The Heavenly Demon paused.
She pondered briefly, then asked back.
"You didn't teach him one of the Heavenly Tribulation methods, did you?"
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"You checked?"
"I did."
"Walking around fine?"
"He was howling, but walking."
"...Pffft! Hahaha! What nonsense is this! That guy's a freak among freaks!"
As the laughing Heavenly Demon carried on, First Demon reached out. She placed her hand on the teacup and lightly sipped the overflowing tea.
"He's worthless, but he meets a condition others can't."
"True. The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art grows faster the more you dance on the edge of death... Heavenly Tribulation brings pain, but it prolongs life. Any wound heals as long as your head's attached. If you meet the conditions, you can keep crossing that line repeatedly. It's a race between going mad first or achieving great success first... Good call recruiting him."
"Great success will come first."
"Why so sure?"
"He truly admires your power, Cult Leader."
Just spitting out what she'd seen.
That guy's mad. Mad in a different way.
"Cult Leader, I can't even imagine surpassing you."
"Everyone feels that way."
"But he's different."
"...Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon placed her hand on her cheek.
"A talentless sword built on pain."
Her fingertips brushed her lips. Her blooming smile was so bewitching it stole even First Demon's gaze for a moment.
"Truly the sword of a mere mortal. What a riot."