The scene before me defied belief, and naturally, my eyes widened in shock.
The Demon Sect Master.
Another name for them is Heavenly Demon.
The supreme ruler of Heavenly Mountain, possessing one hundred thousand followers, and the one person who reigns supreme between heaven and earth.
So why has this Heavenly Demon suddenly appeared in the Central Plains, and so abruptly at that?
“Ho? Sword Sage? It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
The Heavenly Demon I happened to meet over the mountain responded warmly, frowning slightly. There was no trace of enmity or murderous intent.
Judging by their nonchalant reaction, it seemed they had foreknowledge of our meeting. They must have sensed me despite my efforts to conceal my presence.
On the other hand, I hadn’t even detected her until she suddenly appeared before me from among the bushes.
…It’s a truly incomprehensible level of strength. This person is utterly absurd.
– Sa, nephew! That woman…
“…Do not make noise.”
Ssssshhh…
“…I must concentrate.”
I instinctively drew the Park Do and pointed it at the Heavenly Demon. Gayoung Jin and Jade Flower, standing nearby, looked at my near-hysterical action with puzzled expressions.
“Aunt?”
“Byul Rak, what’s wrong?”
“Haha, I never expected to run into such a renowned monster in a place like this…”
Hong Ryun seemed to dimly perceive the Heavenly Demon’s level and had drawn a dagger from her coat. She had already moved in front of me, taking a protective stance.
“Sword Sage, your greeting is rather crude. There’s no need to be so hostile.”
Although the Heavenly Demon spoke in a reassuring tone, I couldn’t relax.
How many times have I suffered at her hands? To begin with, the Heavenly Demon doesn’t view people as humans, and when they kill, they don’t manifest any intent to do so.
In other words, just because there isn’t any hostility doesn’t mean I can let my guard down entirely.
Whoosh…
“Ho ho, Sword Sage. I understand your feelings, but it’s truly fine. Why on earth would I have any reason to harm you?”
“…”
“My words are ignored, it seems. Well, I have indeed wronged you, so I guess it’s understandable.”
I maintained my confrontation with the Heavenly Demon, Park Do still in hand. My thoughts were racing like a torrential stream.
My precious ones—the people I care about—have been killed by the Heavenly Demon thousands of times. While Hong Ryun and Gayoung Jin may not have been aware of this in the past, Moon Blossom, who stands here now, has met her end at the Heavenly Demon’s hands hundreds of times.
Grinding teeth.
I tightened my grip on the Park Do, my heart pounding fiercely. My unshakable mind was fractured, and ominous visions of the future clouded my thoughts.
The Heavenly Demon massacres those close to me. Moon Blossom Jin Gayoung, the head of the Taewon Jin Clan, and Sal Seong Hong Ryun, the Pavilion Master of Sal Gak, and Jade Flower, the former grandmaster of Kun Lun—all have been torn apart by the Heavenly Demon without exception.
Grinding sound.
“…What is your relationship with him?”
“…Your unusual reaction suggests you’re quite the extraordinary individual. Let’s join forces.”
Sensing the unusual aura, Jade Flower and Gayoung Jin also drew their weapons and faced off against the Heavenly Demon. The green blade and the hefty axe blade gleamed sharply in the sunlight.
“This pair won’t be much help, but… hey, mysterious master. How about you surrender now? If you fight alongside our benefactor and me, no one in the world could beat us.”
Hong Ryun smiled faintly as she addressed the Heavenly Demon.
That won’t do. Don’t.
Even though the Heavenly Demon doesn’t seem like the type to be driven by pride, they are still an unpredictable character. While they appear peaceful now, there’s no telling when or how they could suddenly change.
“Overconfident, child.”
Just like this.
Shashashak…
“!”
“!”
Creak…
“What do you intend to achieve by relying on this metal?”
The movement of the Heavenly Demon’s hand blurred momentarily, and the weapons in our hands all disappeared at once. The next moment, I saw her holding all four weapons in one hand, swinging them casually.
“Come on, grab them back.”
Taken aback, we accepted the weapons back shakily. Jade Flower’s trembling voice asked with quivering tones.
“May I inquire about your esteemed name? Ah, no… Didn’t Byul Rak mention something about the Demon Sect Master earlier… Wait. Mar… Ma, Ma… Can it really be the Demon Sect Master…?”
That was a movement even I could barely follow. Jade Flower or Gayoung Jin must not have even noticed the movement at all. They were clearly in a state of shock.
Hong Ryun was standing guard while crouched like a wet cat, her two pink eyes filled with a strong resolve: no matter what, she would block this mysterious master.
They might really make a mistake at this rate. Before the Heavenly Demon’s mood twists completely, I hastily mediated while quickly receiving the Park Do.
“I apologize. I briefly lost control and acted rudely.”
The objective was to calm Jade Flower and Hong Ryun, and Gayoung Jin. I’ve been observing that the Heavenly Demon doesn’t seem to have any intention of tormenting me.
“Master of the Demon Sect.”
“Master of the Demon Sect…? Within the sect, the person referred to as Demon Sect Master… Seo… Seo… Seo… Could it possibly be the heavenly demon of the outermost Wulin!?”
Gayoung Jin fell back with a thud, completely stunned. Amidst this chaos, Jin Woo-yong laughed loudly at her fall.
– Pühahaha! That so-called heavenly demon, what a comical sight falling over like that! It’s utterly amusing for our granddaughter!
‘Isn’t that a bit excessive? She is the elder’s granddaughter.’
– If you pity her so much, help her up. Look, she can’t even stand because her legs lost strength.
‘I was about to do that without your instruction.’
I reached out my hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Jin Gayoung grasped it.
However, perhaps due to the shock of the name ‘Heavenly Demon,’ she couldn’t stand even when I pulled her. I had no choice but to lift her by supporting her lower back and back.
– …To turn even this situation into an opportunity, truly befitting our granddaughter.
‘…’
Am I being tricked somehow? Or is it my imagination?
Nothing matters. What’s important now is that the Heavenly Demon truly stands before me.
“Why have you come to the Central Plains?”
I led Hong Ryun, who maintained a strong defensive posture, and Jade Flower, trembling with fear while touching the hilt of her sword, to the back and asked the Heavenly Demon.
“I was on my way to Anhui to take care of some business when I happened to meet you.”
“I know that you have no hostile intentions toward me. Since the beginning, you’ve never looked at me with the eyes of an enemy.”
Nevertheless, I’m still afraid. A deeply ingrained fear lingers in my bones.
However, I must suppress that fear and step forward, because I just realized from the brief clash.
I can’t stop the Heavenly Demon with my current abilities.
Taking away all of our weapons wasn’t just about agility. The blurriness of her hand was merely a form of deception.
Two martial arts have been passed down from generation to generation among the leaders of the Ming Teachings: the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth and Heavenly Demon Skill. The former is especially famous as the protective art of the Demon Sect.
The technique that the Demon just used… was the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth wielded to near perfection, applied precisely to us.
The others aside from me didn’t even notice what happened. She naturally and skillfully pried open our fingers and drew the weapons toward her using a force dominating the space. The transient blur of her hand was probably allowing them some leeway in case the situation became troublesome.
Completely deceived by that, Jade Flower is still muttering panicked words.
“I didn’t even see the move… Is this what it means to be the sovereign of the Demon Sect…?”
It’s not about the principle of ‘suction’ or ‘traction’.
It’s the natural force that constructs heaven and earth, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. Within that short moment, the Heavenly Demon finely manipulated it using Qi to take away our weapons.
A realm that cannot be explained by common sense. Truly, the Heavenly Demon remains the same.
– Seeing you directly for the first time instead of just in my memories, you’re standing outside of common sense. Not even the first Heavenly Demon reached this level.
‘She has said herself that she has defeated gods and the heavenly order. What are mere ancestors to her?’
– ……I never thought that someone born as human could surpass the divine will of heaven and earth.
At the very least, judging the Heavenly Demon by common standards regarding martial arts is dangerous. Always keep that in mind when dealing with the Heavenly Demon.
“Between Ten Thousand Great Mountains and Anhui lies Taewon. Why are you heading to Anhui anyway…?”
“That’s none of your business. It’s not something you should worry about after stepping down. Rather, Sword Sage, where are you going?”
While saying this, the Heavenly Demon glanced at the women behind me. Although she seemed happy judging by her cheerful expression, one can’t let their guard down.
“You clearly keep attracting these extraordinary masters one after another?”
“I’m on my way to the government office as summoned by the state.”
“Government office? With the prohibition against martial involvement, why would someone like you, a Wulin figure, be heading to a government office? Sword Sage, you’re not the type to commit crimes against the nation either.”
“…It would have been great if everyone thought that way.”
“I see. You really have a connection with me, having shared memories for the longest time. So you know me better than anyone.”
“They told me to appear in court. That’s why I’m going.”
“Court? You? On what charges?”
“All kinds… There are numerous charges against me. Haven’t you heard any of the stories about me?”
“After spending the last four years peeling tangerines and chatting with immortals in the celestial realm, what would I know? Explain it to me. I owe you a debt, so there’s no small amount of desire to help you.”
Afterward, I laid out the falsehoods I had been accused of and reasons behind them. As calmly and composedly as possible. It was also intended to impart calmness to the three women who still hadn’t fully recovered, by showing them that I could have a normal conversation with the Heavenly Demon.
While listening to my abbreviated version of the long tale of why I was heading to the government office, the Heavenly Demon listened intently and nodded her head seriously, with no trace of mischief.
After hearing it all, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
“…I told you to live well, but it seems your life has diverged significantly from what I imagined.”
She seemed dissatisfied with my current condition.
“Then, what did you imagine?”
“Since you’re the legendary hero who saved the Central Plains, I assumed you’d be embracing three wives and seven concubines, living in luxury. Everyone with status in the Demon Sect lives like that.”
“But I’m still alive, and that’s enough, right?”
“If you’re happy, then that’s fine… Nevertheless, how can I sit idly by and watch your suffering when I know about it?”
Hmn?
If you’re not going to sit idly, then what do you intend to do? Help me, even though the rumors spread throughout the world can’t be remedied even with the Heavenly Demon’s strength?
“You mentioned being accused of practicing demonic skills? I’ll clear that up for you by testifying on your behalf. I’ll help with anything else you need to the best of my ability.”
“…Don’t you have somewhere to go? What about your own affairs?”
“It’s the same way anyway. It won’t take much time to just say a few words in court.”
You mean… you’re coming with me?
…To the court?
Even though it would be helpful in court, to be honest, I’m uncomfortable with the Heavenly Demon being around.
It’s not that I have ill feelings towards the Heavenly Demon. After being beaten so many times, seeing her doesn’t even evoke anger or hatred. Nevertheless, it’s unsettling to be around her.
“I… It’s truly fine if you don’t help…”
While attempting to politely decline,
“To walk to the government office, it might take a day or two? Well then, take care of me during that time. My name is Heavenly Demon, and I come from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”
The Heavenly Demon nonchalantly shook hands with Hong Ryun and Jade Flower. Consequently, my refusal was cut off midway.
“Ah… What… What should I say to that…? Damn it, I don’t think I can guard against her even with Lord Byul Rak around…”
“Are you offering to help our benefactor? Very generous! But, is there any ulterior motive behind it?”
“Ho ho, how could there be? It’s merely pure goodwill and a little bit of regret.”
Jade Flower was trembling while clinging to me.
“Heh… Whether it’s the Heavenly Demon or anything else… If it means leaning into Uncle’s embrace, I’m good with any excuse…”
Damn, I’m surrounded by people who aren’t quite normal, except for Jade Flower and myself.
