Free Web NovelAfter the grand ritual concluded successfully, everyone stayed for a few days before returning to their original places, promising to meet again next time… except for one person, who continued to remain at the Tang Clan.
“The food in Sichuan Province really is quite unique. It’s not that other regions don’t have spicy dishes, but it’s truly difficult to make something that is both delicious and spicy.”
“That’s appreciated. If the head chef heard that, he would’ve been delighted.”
“I’ll have to tell him it was delicious when I meet him next time. Ahaha!”
It was none other than Zhuge Bu, who laughed heartily and shoveled food nonstop.
Of course, there was no problem with him staying longer.
The Tang Clan was in the midst of enjoying its greatest golden age in history. Naturally, they would not begrudge an extra guest’s meals.
Not to mention, Zhuge Bu caused no trouble. His sly attitude sometimes made me sigh, but… that was simply the discomfort I felt when dealing with someone socially adept, given my own clumsiness in human relationships.
In truth, not a single martial artist—nor even the servants—disliked Zhuge Bu. If anything, they seemed to like him a little.
Well, Zhuge Bu was someone capable enough to serve as the Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance.
I did not know the exact hierarchy of the Murim Alliance, but I did know that such a position meant he was either the second or third highest in ranking.
His eyes might roll back at the sight of formations, but he was fundamentally competent and excellent at dealing with people.
Which, in itself, was the problem.
“Anyway, won’t you now tell me? What business does the strategist have that makes him remain at the Tang Clan for so long?”
“Oh dear, did I make you uncomfortable, White Moon Sword Lord? If so, I apologize.”
“No, that’s not it. I was simply curious if something had happened. Judging by the fact you requested this meal… it seems like it’s about time you told us.”
“Ahaha… the Alliance Leader did say the White Moon Sword Lord wasn’t one for empty words, and indeed you aren’t. Understood. Then I suppose it’s time to get to the main topic.”
After wiping his lips lightly, Zhuge Bu glanced around.
Perhaps it was because he had intruded on what was basically a family meal.
After calmly looking at Tang Jincheon, Tang Cheong, Tang Sowol, and finally myself, Zhuge Bu spoke.
“It’s about the Demonic Cult. The investigation is finished, and I came to inform you of the Murim Alliance’s position—along with helping with the grand ritual.”
“As expected.”
Tang Jincheon nodded as though he had already guessed. Well, there were only a limited number of topics Zhuge Bu would stay behind to discuss.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Zhuge Bu continued.
“It seems none of you care for beating around the bush, so I’ll give you the conclusion first… The Demonic Cult’s atmosphere is unusual. As if they’re preparing for a war.”
“War…?”
“Father. The Demonic Cult harboring hostility toward the martial artists of the Central Plains isn’t rare. And the reason it was never a major issue before is clear.”
“Cheong, I told you. The current Demonic Cult is different from before. The Heavenly Demon—who calls himself such an arrogant title—possesses power befitting that name, and the cultists act in far more secretive ways.”
“Of course I know that, Father. They even targeted Sowol back when she was a novice in the martial world. But even so, the might of the cultists shouldn’t have changed drastically. The Heavenly Demon himself may be dangerous… but he is still just one person. It may become a dangerous subjugation, but hardly something one would call a war.”
“Aha! I fully understand your point. In truth, that was precisely what the Murim Alliance examined most thoroughly.”
“Let me be clear: the Demonic Cult is preparing for war.”
“What…?”
Tang Cheong was flustered, but before he could speak further, Tang Sowol—who had clashed with the Demonic Cult several times—opened her mouth.
“You mean the Heavenly Demon is elevating the martial prowess of the cultists?”
And so again—
“Correct! Of course, it’s not to the point that absolute masters surpassing the wall are appearing. But the number of Peak Stage martial artists is said to be increasing at an astonishing rate.”
“That’s impossible! No matter how great a master’s teachings may be, enlightenment is something one must achieve oneself! Reaching first-class by effort is one thing, but how does one mass-produce those beyond that!”
“The Heavenly Demon released his own martial techniques.”
“…What?”
“Of course, he didn’t reveal everything. For those without even the basics, forcing divine arts on them would be meaningless.”
Thus, the Heavenly Demon had restructured his techniques so they could be learned easily and quickly.
The result: reaching the Peak Stage became easy, but breaking past that became nearly impossible… a martial art with built-in limitations.
Still, for those who never could have become masters, merely reaching the realm of masters was absurd.
Tang Cheong, however, seemed shocked by something else.
“No matter how altered, how could he so casually reveal his true martial art…?”
“That simply shows how confident he is in his own art, Brother. The Heavenly Demon I met possessed strength worthy of such confidence.”
“Heh…”
“But if you brought this up, that means the Murim Alliance acquired the martial art he released. Am I wrong?”
“Hehe! Correct! The White Moon Sword Lord certainly has sharp insight in matters of martial arts. Thanks to the Beggar’s Sect heroes, we managed to steal the techniques the Heavenly Demon distributed to his cultists. Research is mostly finished but…”
“Is there some problem?”
“Yes. Two, in fact. First: there is no proper method to counter it. No martial art is perfect; every art has weaknesses, which is why even renowned sects fear their arts leaking out. If a counter-method is created, the consequences are disastrous.”
Zhuge Bu exhaled deeply. His eyes, which had retained a hint of humor until moments ago, sharpened, shadows gathering beneath them.
“I myself, as well as the Alliance’s greatest masters and scholars from the library, worked on it.”
“And what you discovered is everything you’ve said so far, but no counter-method could be created.”
“Yes… ah, but that doesn’t mean there are no ways at all.”
“Hmm? You said earlier there weren’t any.”
“It isn’t a counter-method or a structural weakness in the martial art itself. It feels more like… an inherent flaw.”
Zhuge Bu gave a hollow laugh and continued, sounding unconcerned.
“From the inner art, to palm arts, sword arts, movement arts—everything is included. But perhaps because all of it is essentially a degraded copy of a single original art… it was structured so that it cannot defy the source.”
“Cannot defy the original? Meaning the Heavenly Demon’s Heavenly Demon Divine Art has superior compatibility?”
“No. I mean it more literally. Once you train in the distributed martial art, your mind becomes susceptible to the Heavenly Demon’s control. It seems the martial art contains not just techniques but also some sorcery.”
“Unbelievable.”
According to the added explanation, shallow practice was fine, but deeper training caused one’s mind to be subdued to various degrees, and completely learning the inner art led to full subjugation.
A martial art that granted strength, yet prevented one from advancing beyond a certain point, and demanded total devotion to the Heavenly Demon.
Considering the nature of demonic arts—quick power gained at any cost—it truly was a demonic art through and through.
While I clicked my tongue internally, Tang Cheong muttered in disbelief.
“To think he not only spreads his martial art so casually, but even mixes sorcery into it. I thought I had grasped the Demonic Cult… but they were far worse.”
“Please don’t blame yourself, Brother. Most martial artists would think the same. In fact, you’re better for at least recognizing how dangerous the Heavenly Demon is.”
“Is that comfort? Thanks.”
The cultists other than the Heavenly Demon were not particularly impressive.
That was the same conclusion I had reached when I returned after battling the Demonic Cult to the brink of death.
But there came a turning point that changed that belief. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
“However, that’s not all.”
“…Hmm?”
“I told the Alliance Leader and Father-in-law, but it seems Brother hasn’t heard yet. The Heavenly Demon is creating—or recruiting—Flowering Stage martial artists through some unknown method.”
“Recruiting, I understand. But creating? What does that even mean?”
Tang Cheong blinked, unable to comprehend what he had just heard.
To him, I revealed something I had kept quiet at the request of secrecy.
“You remember the Sword Demon I fought at the Black Lotus Sect, don’t you?”
“I don’t know the details, but I know he had just reached the Flowering Stage and was unstable. Not unusual among unorthodox martial artists. Don’t tell me—”
“You’re correct. The Sword Demon’s instability wasn’t because of his own enlightenment. He wielded willpower forcefully injected into him as if it were his own.”
“That’s even possible?”
“It was likely only possible because he was the Sword Demon. But the important point is this: the Heavenly Demon has a method to forcibly elevate another’s realm.”
The Sword Demon was an eccentric who wished to become a sword himself; thus, he could accept another’s willpower without rejection.
This method probably would not work on other top-tier masters… but the fact remained that the Heavenly Demon had raised the Sword Demon to the Flowering Stage with it. Meaning he likely had ways to forcibly raise others as well.
Who knows how many regressions the Heavenly Demon underwent? He certainly did not start out capable of dominating the entire martial world alone.
He must have once struggled. The technique the Sword Demon received must have been one of those results.
Frankly, the most terrifying part of the Heavenly Demon was his accumulated knowledge from countless regressions, not simply his strength.
Moreover, though I never knew this before regression, Soul Valley had long been under the Demonic Cult’s control.
Though I had defeated the King of Assassins and Soul Valley likely lacked powerful masters now… the point was that there might be other sects—or Flowering Stage masters—that had already submitted without anyone knowing.
Thus, if the Demonic Cult began acting in earnest, they would be far stronger than what was known. Likely stronger than before my regression.
They would also suffer side effects that didn’t exist before my regression… but the Demonic Cult was never the type to care about that.
The Murim Alliance had uncovered all of this.
And since the Demonic Cult was preparing for war, naturally, the Alliance had to prepare for war in turn.
I nodded and spoke to Zhuge Bu.
“I understand. But is this really something that required such secretive discussion? The Heavenly Demon’s strength is already known to the clan heads and sect leaders, and if the Murim Alliance confirms it, no one will underestimate the cultists.”
“That’s true. Normally, we would simply send a formal summons and request aid from the Orthodox Sect elites. However—”
Zhuge Bu shook his head.
“We received information that the Potala Palace intends to join hands with the Demonic Cult.”
“Potala Palace?”
With the Blood Buddha dead, they were supposed to have stopped causing trouble in the Central Plains. So why—
Zhuge Bu shrugged at my bewildered expression.
“We haven’t discovered the exact reason yet. But the circumstances strongly indicate the Potala Palace and Demonic Cult intend to ally. And that creates one problem.”
“Sorcery and esoteric methods.”
“Yes. Their methods are far too foreign to the Central Plains. Perhaps the Murim Alliance alone could withstand them… but the damage would be severe.”
Meaning, the Murim Alliance needed external support.
And as for why he had come specifically to me—
“The Alliance Leader wishes the White Moon Sword Lord to borrow the strength of the Black Lotus Sect. What you mentioned at Shaolin…”
“The Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.”
I knew exactly what he was asking.
“So he wants me to beat the disobedient ones in the Black Lotus Sect or kill them, and consolidate authority under the Sect Master.”
“…What?”
“Since things are already arranged with the Sect Master, the alliance between orthodox and unorthodox forces should form smoothly.”
“Uh, h-he didn’t say anything that extreme…”
“Don’t worry. That’s what I’m best at.”
Zhuge Bu stared at me blankly.
I gave him the most reassuring smile I could.
“Hik!”
For some reason, Zhuge Bu recoiled in fright, but surely, that was just his imagination.
