Chapter 67

The prisoner transport wagon of the Heavenly Demon Sect was a masterpiece made by the weapons division of the inner hall.

With reinforced steel grates, it combined strength and weight, and its modular components made maintenance a breeze.

Moreover, it could blur the prisoners’ sense of time through light regulation, and with the two lower furnaces, various toxic fumes could be pumped in.

And it even promised a comfortable ride.

Not for the sake of protecting prisoners’ human rights, but rather to keep those drugged-up prisoners from waking up.

So when the loud banging on the wagon echoed, the assassin from the outer hall, busy fanning the aromatic herbs in the furnace, jumped in surprise.

How are they awake already?

Was the drug too weak?

Even though I used three times the usual dosage?

With high soundproofing, all that could be heard was the banging against the wall.

The assassin pushed aside one wall and said.

“What’s going on?”

– Ah, can you hear me? I’m bored. Give me a snack.

It sounded like a spoiled child asking for a treat.

The befuddled assassin was momentarily speechless.

– Hurry up! I’m feeling dizzy. Give me snacks. Snacks!

“Hey, do you even know your situation right now?”

– I don’t care about that. Snacks are more important. If you’ve kidnapped me, you should take responsibility. Isn’t providing meals and snacks basic etiquette?

“Uh, what is this nonsense?”

The assassin fell silent.

Instead, they pulled out a pouch from their waist and dumped it into the furnace.

It was powdered dream herb.

Then they increased the fanning speed, pouring the thick smoke into the wagon.

The effect kicked in immediately.

The girl’s voice rose in pitch by a note.

– Who’s lighting incense to calm me down!? I said I want snacks! Hey!

“Now, just wait a moment.”

– Hmph. You should’ve done that earlier.

The assassin hurried toward the front wagon.

Upon reaching the lead wagon, they reported to Master Jo.

“Master Jo, Seomun Qing is demanding snacks. What should we do?”

Ji Seung-ju looked at the assassin with a blank expression.

“Didn’t she just down a lot of the sleep powder?”

“It seems she has a constitution that resists it.”

There are indeed people who don’t respond to such drugs.

That wasn’t too rare either, as dream herbs aren’t extremely toxic.

“Should we use another drug?”

Other drugs would be far too potent.

If it messed up her head, she wouldn’t be able to play the instrument.

After a moment of thought, Ji Seung-ju shook his head.

“For now, let’s cater to her mood. Give her what she wants. I will go talk to her myself.”

Ji Seung-ju recalled a trait about people.

When someone’s mind is anxious and dizzy, they unconsciously prefer those standing beside them.

This applies even to hostages who harbor feelings for their captors.

While it might not be love, if he could reduce the psychological distance even slightly, he might gain smoother cooperation later.

That was Ji Seung-ju’s intention.

—-

My legs are numb.

As soon as the tingling subsided a bit, my legs started causing trouble.

Numbness is an insidious pain.

It’s constantly nagging at you while you’re awake, making you feel jittery and uncomfortable.

I’d rather be walking around!

Even if the wagon is big and spacious, there’s nowhere to move around.

“Hey, what did you do to my legs?”

– I have no idea, as it’s the Supreme Being’s handiwork, but you’ll be released once we arrive at the temple.

Somehow, I couldn’t feel my legs properly; it felt like my blood flow was completely blocked—turns out that jerk did something.

You bastard, I won’t let this slide!

“Can’t you just let me go? I promise I won’t run!”

– The Supreme Being left already. He really despises feeling restrained.

Qing’s eyes lit up.

What? That jerk left already?

My master is well-versed in traditional medicine,

so I should have him cut it open and find a way from there.

– But don’t entertain any vain thoughts. There are two Supreme Masters present. You are also in discomfort, are you not?

Ugh, great, just great.

Qing pouted his lips.

Shouldn’t those Supreme Masters have better things to do than following along just to kidnap one Peak martial artist?

– If you have nothing better to do, how about learning a martial art while you’re at it?

“Martial arts? What kind of martial arts?”

– The Divine Skills that the orthodox sect calls Demonic Arts.

What do you mean ‘Demonic Arts’ after kidnapping me?

Qing replied in disbelief.

“You expect me to learn Demonic Arts?”

Qing was already a Supreme Demoness who had mastered one of the Eleven Great Demonic Arts, the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat.

– Whether you learn it late or early, you will eventually have to. Besides, we need to find out one of the Young Lady’s weaknesses. After all, it’s only polite to return her safely once everything is done, right?

“So if needed, you’ll spread rumors about me being a user of Demonic Arts?”

– Still, isn’t it better to learn it now rather than directly receiving training from the Supreme Being?

It was a choice between learning or getting hit.

Hmm. No need to suffer to learn, right?

Qing quickly accepted.

Since she already mastered one, what harm would it do to learn two?

Hadn’t she also learned how to face Demonic Arts?

First, bluff it out, and if that doesn’t work, she could also use her master’s name.

Her master had allowed it; either way, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

What could they do if they were pressuring her to learn Demonic Arts with swords drawn?

Thinking it over, her master had said that the more secret techniques, the better.

Just adding another trump card to her arsenal.

Qing quickly came to a conclusion.

“Alright, I’ll learn!”

It was a refreshing answer.

– …Are you serious?

The surprise was evident as if those outside were doubtful.

“Didn’t you say I’d have to learn anyway? Then what’s the hold-up? I’m bored, and I might as well train a bit.”

– Good. Then let me recite the secret technique. “Dark Sun Radiance, Black Blood Illusion…”

The incantation flowed out from beyond the wall.

With no interpretation, it was the most primitive and inconvenient phonetic transcription from the past into the future.

Using pictographic characters was just a mess of doodles used in ancient times, when people were considered primitive.

Hence, using pictographic writing was evidence one had evolved only halfway between humans and apes.

For that reason, Qing casually let it pass through one ear and out the other.

After all, the Martial Arts Inventory would automatically register the technique once she heard it.

– …Did you hear everything?

“What, is that it?”

– I’ll recite it again. “Dark Sun…”

Qing interrupted with an agitated shout.

“Hey! Are you messing with me right now?”

The Martial Arts Inventory went silent.

Qing noticed that just by touching the secret manual, she could register it in the inventory.

This was different from actively training; this was a standby state.

However, there were conditions.

The secret manual had to be intact.

If the Martial Arts Inventory wasn’t glowing, it meant the incantation was incomplete.

This jerk is trying to pull a fast one while claiming to teach me Demonic Arts?

– Why do you say that?

“When you recite it, do it properly! Are you messing around with martial arts? Is martial arts a joke? Wow, you talk about honesty and then pull a scam! You little con artist!”

For a moment, there was silence outside.

Then, a voice returned.

– Damn it.

Qing questioned her ears.

Did that little brat just say what she thought?

Can’t see my face and you say that?

– …My words may have been mistaken. Please don’t misunderstand. It seems I’ve misremembered something; let me double-check.

—-

The owner of the most dreadful Demonic Art, the Heart Consumption Technique, is called “Soul Eater.”

Teaming up with the Sema Family, they were a demon wiped out.

Even if not, with about ten Demonic Arts mastered, one would gain a nickname for free.

However, since nicknames are relative, the titles can differ based on who calls you.

To the enemies, she’s the Supreme Demoness, while to our team, she’s the Supreme Divine Lady.

Or perhaps the Supreme Demonic Queen?

Typically, those practicing Demonic Arts belong to heterodox sects or demonic paths, so having ‘Demon’ in their nickname was quite a source of pride.

In the entire world of martial arts, only the orthodox sects would complain.

The Sema clan looked on with envy at times, even hoping to possess it.

Even the Lord of Black Blood Demons could tell which Demonic Arts one owned just by their nicknames.

Lord of Black Blood Demons!

If anyone were to get hit properly, not only would they get bruised, but their flesh would decompose and rot away from that vicious Demonic Art.

The characteristic of those black-blooded demons was their dark hands.

It was imbued with a trick that could rot flesh away.

The Lord of Black Blood Demons, Master Godang, paused while ripping into meat with his dark hands.

It was a little-known fact that the name of the Lord of Black Blood Demons is composed of just one character, ‘Sang.’

Godang is a rare surname even in China.

“You figured out it was wrong just by hearing the incantation?”

“Yes, Master Demon.”

“Master Jo is making a good joke, isn’t he? Does that kid have some ancient genius or something? How could he tell something was wrong from just the incantation?”

Master Godang’s tone grew curt.

Ji Seung-ju cautiously replied.

“There’s a possibility. After all, she’s already reached the late Peak stage, isn’t she?”

In the martial world, most people viewed Qing in this way.

She’s already the world’s number one con artist!

“So you mean to say you’re suggesting passing down the complete incantation?”

Master Godang showed displeasure.

No matter how much it was the Supreme Being’s order, passing down an incomplete incantation was already a reckless act that broke the rules of the martial world.

But to ask for the complete incantation?

“What if you think about it another way? You can’t go back to the orthodox martial world once the Black Blood is taken out, can you?”

That was the exact reason for choosing the Lord of Black Blood Demons.

Just looking at the appearance of those black-blooded demons, they clearly looked like demons.

‘Hey, that one’s hands look off!?’

‘What’s that? It’s a demon? Then let’s kill it.’

“So, are you suggesting taking her as a disciple?”

“Yup. What do you think?”

Ji Seung-ju barely suppressed his feelings of conflicted emotions.

Fortunately, it stayed at the level of a somewhat cute response.

“You brat, how could you even think of making a demon a disciple?”

In the Divine Sect, disicples were just another term for servants or attendants.

If they presented a threat, they’d be immediately disposed of as expendables.

Otherwise, it would result in the disciple surpassing the master and taking their place.

This was the way of the strong.

And this was the reason why Master Godang was against the idea.

What if he passed down the Demonic Arts to a genius and they ended up absorbing it all and threatening his position as a master?

“Hmmm, I’ll have to think about it a bit.”

“Yes. However, I must humbly ask for a significant decision for the greater good of the Divine Sect.”

The old man was being a nuisance.

Ji Seung-ju thought to himself.

Nonetheless, he had no choice but to comply due to the order of the Supreme Being.

In the Divine Sect, the Supreme Being held absolute power.

The Supreme Being was at the late stage of the Realm of Transformation.

But in reality, they had long since surpassed that level.

Having fully mastered the Divine Skills and reached the stage of demonhood, they had sealed their Qi meridians.

Even now, if they wished, they could ascend to the realm of spirit in an instant and possibly reach even greater heights.

What Qing said wasn’t just empty bravado.

However, Ji Seung-ju couldn’t threaten Master Godang by saying, ‘The Supreme Being ordered it.’

That would completely ruin his reputation.

For a warrior, reputation is more valuable than life and martial arts.

So, Ji Seung-ju had no choice but to beg politely, creating a justification for himself.

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