Chapter 70

청 was thinking.

Now I can stop worrying about what others think!

Because I’m an important person!

The Heavenly Demon Sect underestimated 청’s worth.

There must be a reason they need the Magic Flute.

It’s such a fascinating ability, especially for this barbaric Central Plain, that there’s no one to replace 청.

So it’s only natural that I need to blow into it.

What if I refuse?

Well, good luck waiting for decades!

So 청 simply decided to go all out.

Just like that Supreme Being Representative guy, as long as my arms and mouth are fine, I could skip the rest.

I mean, who cares if I lose my legs or eyes, right?

At this rate, I thought I might as well act like I’m dying.

On top of that, my legs were healing quite well.

Looking around, I figured I was doing pretty good just to be walking—shouldn’t that warrant some applause?

So, I could just buy time and wait for the right moment.

That was 청’s plan.

It wasn’t just some random whim; breaking that villain’s skull had its purpose.

I was gauging the reaction and checking whether it was okay or not, just a little test.

It was a significant decision for me.

What if something went wrong and I ended up tortured?

I was ready to bawl my eyes out and keep playing my flute for 108 songs in a row.

But hey, no reaction at all?

So, I came to a conclusion.

I’m actually more desperate than I thought.

Guess I’ll have to push harder.

Of course, it was also fun.

The Master of Dark Demon Arts was similar in technique but distinct from Buddha’s Physical Body.

It was focused on a palm-striking martial art known as the “Long Strike.”

Its advantage was the exquisite feeling of the impact.

Crushing a skull—it had this thrill!

The downside, though, was my black hands looked a bit creepy.

I’m not just talking about a shade of black; it was pure, pitch-black.

Not a warm brown or gray, but the purest black you could imagine.

Now, 청’s mastery level had risen to the point where he could gaze at his darkened palms.

“Phew…”

As 청 exhaled, the black hue seemed to vanish into his skin.

The unique trait of the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat was the unbreakable defense below the elbow.

The clean skin and long, slender hand were mere side effects of the process.

And to use the Master of Dark Demon Arts, I had to break that unified defense, gather my deceit, and unleash the black energy.

It was a lot more complicated than it sounded.

After all, the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat had already established its position in the flow of blood energy.

To use the Master of Dark Demon Arts, I had to distort my blood pathways.

It was a delicate task, requiring the manipulation of pristine True Energy to twist correctly!

I kept quiet about my ability to change the color of my hands like a wizard swinging a baton.

So I wouldn’t be branded a coward.

Somehow, my mind kept spiraling toward dishonorable paths.

Whether it was a trait of Heaven’s Kill or just how I was wired.

Regardless, maintaining the Master of Dark Demon Arts required almost desperate concentration, which increased my mastery level rapidly.

Time passed, and it had probably been around two months.

I was bored!

During this time, I had killed quite a few assassins.

No one dared approach me now.

In truth, the Secret Operations Department of the Divine Sect was filled with loyal veterans.

Living peacefully in the Central Plain and remaining faithful to the sect wasn’t something you could manage without a robust mental fortitude.

Armed with endless hatred for the Central Plain, these assassins primarily gathered information while engaging in human trafficking and violent crimes as side gigs, funding the sect.

In other words, they were too valuable to lose to my antics.

That’s why total access restrictions were in place.

Even Ji Seung-ju avoided me like the plague.

He was managing to stay alive by scraping by, but things were getting dull. Time to kill him, I thought.

That little brat had racked up enough evil deeds.

Just as I resolved this, the carriage door flung open without so much as a “by your leave.”

An old man, like a skeleton with skin stretched tight, glared down at 청 with disapproval.

“Ah, is it mealtime?”

청 obediently reached out.

The old man grumbled while picking 청 up.

“You ungrateful little brat. The world’s gone totally upside down. Even the King of Hell might be shocked to see you like this.”

“Takes one to know one. Who’s the genius who turned my legs to mush?”

청 received the elder’s care, but it wasn’t exactly reciprocated.

The world had turned upside down—that was the crux of it.

This frail old man went by the name of Master of Thunder Arts Choi Riyong, the Great Demon Lord.

He might look like he could drop dead from a tap, but he was a master among the elite.

His villainy certainly matched his reputation.

As the transport party reunited with masters returning to the Divine Sect, now there were four Supreme Martial Artists and a Realm of Transformation expert—talk about a crowd!

Supreme Masters were swarming around like cockroaches.

This was just the number outside, and they were coming back in droves.

청 had seriously underestimated the Heavenly Demon Sect.

This wasn’t just a bunch of blabbering fools trying to conquer the Central Plain; they had real skill.

In fact, my legs had healed just two days ago, but the amount of trickery I’d pulled had elevated my performance to the skies.

Just when I could finally think of sneaking away, I was stuck here watching all the talent surrounding me, waiting for my chance.

And what’s with the name “Riyong”?

Every time I say it, I can’t help but feel it’s somewhat cool.

“Thank the heavens for those murderers having dummy legs. The Supreme Being certainly has some insight.”

“Yeah, you should be thinking that my legs hurt, or I wouldn’t be acting out.”

“Such an insolent brat. If it weren’t for the Magic Flute, I would’ve tossed you in the poop pot already!”

“Whoa. We’re going to eat now, can you watch your mouth? There’s mud and grease—why bring poop into this?”

Choi Riyong shot a glare at 청.

“Hey, don’t give me that look. It’s like we’re friends now!”

Choi Riyong’s eyes were getting scary.

When you reach the Realm of Transformation, those kind of glares even kill!

Feeling pressured, 청 changed the subject.

“…You seem like you want to peel off my flesh.”

That was the kind of threat that suggested separation of bone and flesh.

Feeling a bit intimidated, 청 glanced around.

He saw impressive large tents set up in the vast grasslands.

This was no longer the Central Plain that 청 knew.

Upon entering one of the big tents, a lavishly set dining table was buzzing with a crowd of unmentionables.

“Master of Thunder Arts, you’re here!”

The villainous members of the Divine Sect greeted Choi Riyong with respect.

From what 청 observed, the villains were actually quite courteous.

I knew the reason for that too.

I had witnessed the scene of a drunk idiot meeting his end last time around.

In this neck of the woods, lacking manners could easily cost you your life.

“Old man, you should’ve just grabbed that crazy girl by the hair instead of babying her.”

One demon tried to flatter Choi Riyong but quickly shut up and dropped his eyes, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Choi Riyong was radiating purple lightning from his entire body.

It was the signature technique of the Master of Thunder Arts.

As a result, 청 also received several blasts of misfortune.

Once at the table, 청 indulged in the joy of dining—the highlight of life!

As 청 was stuffing his cheeks until they were about to burst, someone finally took a seat across from him.

“Ugh, it’s you,”

청 beamed through his stuffed cheeks at Ji Seung-ju.

He had been dodging me until today, but here he was, showing up right in front.

I could bear it in the presence of so many masters, but let’s see how things go once we’re alone.

My smile turned ominous.

Ji Seung-ju opened his mouth without greeting.

“About the favored topic—”

“What?”

“About that Strong One you mentioned last time.”

청 swallowed the food he was chewing.

“What? You’ve been thinking about that this whole time?”

“I’ve thought about it for a long time. What the Young Lady did was mere murder, not a noble kill.”

“Really? Is it because I’m not a Divine Sect member? You guys can, and I can’t?”

“No, that’s not it. A strong person can take the life of the weak only when it’s a necessity. At the very least, it should provide nutrient-rich meaning, leading to a noble death.”

It sounded like this kid had given it some thought.

But he was just a past factory worker making it big.

An academic who clawed his way up while everyone else with a degree was struggling just to survive in this cruel society!

I could say I had a mythic level of success.

“Isn’t it all about survival of the fittest? A full-bellied beast doesn’t hunt? It’s all part of a natural cycle!”

“…!”

A lightning bolt struck Ji Seung-ju’s head.

“Well, if you say so, that’s the way it is.”

청 was done with this topic.

I didn’t need to take him seriously when he was just spouting nonsense.

It was inherently ridiculous.

How many lions hunt just for fun?

I could name a ton of furry thugs fooling around every street corner!

“By the way—”

Ji Seung-ju continued.

Giving him the side-eye, I could see his expression lacked enthusiasm yet he seemed satisfied.

What’s this about?

Did he think he had won just because I ignored him?

What a childlike mindset.

So it was time to unleash the ultimate and forbidden technique of debating—aiming for personal attacks.

I had a verbal bomb ready to go when suddenly…

“About your hand…”

“Huh?”

“I distinctly remember the blackness extending beyond your wrists last time.”

I was caught off guard.

Actually, maintaining the Master of Dark Demon Arts got increasingly difficult as my mastery grew.

“I’ve been watching closely, but your black energy seems to decrease while you eat?”

You can’t help but lose focus when eating!

Is that really such a crime, wanting to enjoy my food?

Even a dog gets left alone at the dinner table!

“Haha, maybe our little brat just misjudged it?”

“Can you conceal that black energy?”

Although it was phrased as a question, he was already convinced.

No denying it; trying to wriggle out wouldn’t fool anyone.

청 let out a deep sigh.

This kid is sharp. I should’ve got rid of him ages ago.

Though I had intended to dispose of him now, unlike those other miscellaneous nuisances, he wasn’t easy prey.

This brat was a formidable opponent that all these top players respected.

“Seems like I’ve been caught?”

Just as I was careless with my display, I casually let it slip.

청’s hands faded back to a soft white.

Clean and beautiful hands.

Once they changed from the repulsive black, they looked enormously graceful, like a true beauty’s hands.

And as if Ji Seung-ju had seen this coming, he finally broke a rare expression, a smirk forming on his lips.

At the same time, the Lord of Black Blood Demons across the table choked on his food, expelling it explosively!

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