Chapter 4

“You only call me ‘Master¹’ when you need something.”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice was icy.

I shamelessly spoke on, unfazed.

“Did I? For someone as lofty as the Heavenly Demon, you sure mind the little things. Haha.”

“……”

Was he at a loss for words again?

He coolly averted his gaze and took his horse’s reins.

“You said you’d steal the Tranquil Frost Pill.”

“Me? When?”

“Just now.”

“Ah, that.”

I snuck a look at the Heavenly Demon.

His face remained expressionless.

“That was a joke.”

“Was it?”

“Yes. I didn’t think you’d actually go steal it.”

“Was it not your request?”

“A favor’s a favor. But it’d be a problem if you blow an entire Heretical Alliance branch away.”

“A problem?”

He asked.

“Why.”

“Mm… If the Cult Leader of the Demon Cult, no, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult smashes a Heretical Alliance branch, it becomes a big deal.”

“And why is that a problem.”

“Because I’ll get caught up in it too.”

“……”

For an instant, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze wavered.

“Selfish.”

“I’ve always been selfish.”

That was the truth.

In my previous life, I left the Demon Cult for my own reasons.

I ran away to save myself and wandered the Central Plains to seek treatment for myself.

Of course, I helped people along the way, but that was always secondary.

“I see.”

The Heavenly Demon nodded evenly.

“Then what will you do.”

“It’d be best to handle it quietly.”

“Quietly?”

“Yes. Slip in quietly, steal quietly, and leave quietly.”

“Who will.”

“You will, Master.”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes turned a shade colder.

“The branch vaults of the Heretical Alliance are sealed with intricate formations.”

“Of course. Naturally.”

“Slip in there quietly and take it out quietly?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re telling me to do that.”

“If not you, who else could do it.”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon was silent for a while.

Then he let out a very short sigh.

“Follow me.”

“Where to?”

“To the Heretical Alliance’s Lanzhou branch.”

“Right now?”

“Now.”

I mounted my horse.

The Heavenly Demon turned his horse first.

I kept right on his heels.

Mixed with the noise of people and horses was the clatter of cartwheels.

Late-afternoon Lanzhou bustled as always.

Taverns brimmed with the laughter of drunkards downing liquor, and gambling dens erupted with cheers and groans whenever they could.

In the very heart of the city stood a hall with deep crimson tiles.

The Heretical Alliance’s banner fluttered.

“We’ve arrived.”

The Heavenly Demon reined in his horse.

I stopped as well.

The Heretical Alliance’s Lanzhou branch was ringed on all sides by high walls.

Two gatekeepers, spears planted, kept watch inside and out.

“How are you going to do it?”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon didn’t answer.

Instead, he dismounted.

Then he walked slowly toward the wall.

I hastily waved my hand.

“Wait, wait! I said quietly!”

“I will be quiet.”

“What you’re doing right now isn’t quiet!”

He ignored me.

Reaching the wall, he lifted his hand.

Instinctively, I looked back.

Most people were busy with their own affairs, but a few cast glances our way.

‘Ah, please…’

As if the sky were collapsing.

————!

The wall parted quietly.

There was no sound of stone breaking.

The Heavenly Demon walked through the opening.

I hurried after him.

“You destroyed the Heretical Alliance’s formation without a sound.”

“I did not destroy it.”

“Then what?”

“I merely changed its direction for a moment.”

“……”

It sounded absurd.

But I couldn’t deny the result I’d just witnessed.

“Lead me to where the Tranquil Frost Pills are.”

“Me?”

“Wasn’t this your wish.”

“Well, yes, but… how would I know where they are.”

“You need not know. I’ll tell you the actions, so just move accordingly.”

“Sigh.”

A sigh escaped me of its own accord.

Honestly, I could subdue a few gatekeepers or warriors even with this body.

The experience and skill I’d stacked in my previous life remained intact in my memory.

But the Heavenly Demon was the problem.

No matter how much talent I had, as someone who hasn’t mastered any martial arts, I couldn’t beat people down skillfully in front of him.

If I did, I might invite needless suspicion.

“What is this brat’s true identity?”—that sort of thing.

“You need not know. I’ll tell you the actions, so just move accordingly.”

“Sigh.”

My shoulders slumped.

The Heavenly Demon snapped his fingers.

At that moment, strange lines began to draw themselves in my field of view.

Lines layered thinly over the floor, walls, and ceiling.

“That is…”

“The path of the formation.”

“You made the paths visible?”

“I permitted you to see them.”

“Permitted…”

It was ridiculous, but now wasn’t the time to quibble.

The Heavenly Demon continued.

“Follow the second line in the middle.”

I stepped exactly as I saw.

One step, then another.

We passed the inner corridor of the wall and crossed a narrow courtyard.

Guards were passing by, but none saw us.

“Is this… a masking array that deceives sight?”

“Something like that.”

“Then sound as well?”

“It is arranged so as to be barely heard.”

Wasn’t this completely insane.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

What was insane was how masterfully the Heavenly Demon handled this formation.

“Nine steps to the left, five steps to the right.”

“Yes.”

“Slowly.”

“Yes.”

Holding my breath, I walked as told.

A moment later, we arrived before a small hall.

A plaque reading ‘Medicine Vault’ hung on the door.

“So it’s here.”

“Right.”

The Heavenly Demon took the door-ring.

Click.

The door opened quietly.

Inside were orderly arranged display cases and medicine chests.

The room was cool, and I could faintly hear energy flowing.

“Where are the Tranquil Frost Pills.”

“There.”

I pointed to the chest at the very back from which an icy energy poured out.

The Heavenly Demon approached and lifted the lid.

Round pills covered in blue frost lay neatly arranged.

“……”

Unconsciously, I licked my lips.

With these, my limit will extend.

From seven minutes to thirty or forty minutes.

“How many will you need.”

“If possible… all of them.”

“Let’s take care of it.”

Finishing his words, the Heavenly Demon swept his hand.

The pills vanished, box and all.

“Uh… where did you send them?”

“To your luggage.”

“My luggage?”

“The saddlebags on the horse outside.”

“……”

By this point, I was tired of being surprised.

“Let’s go out.”

“If we go out as is… won’t we get caught?”

“We won’t be.”

The Heavenly Demon turned his body.

Just then—

Thud!

A heavy sound came from outside the hall.

Footsteps pounding roughly drew near.

“Someone has intruded!”

“Guard the medicine vault!”

In an instant, the area outside the door was in an uproar.

Reflexively, I looked back at the pill chest.

The chest was still there.

But the pills that had been inside were gone.

“Ah…”

I felt certain.

The Heavenly Demon hadn’t even left traces of theft.

“Back.”

The Heavenly Demon spoke softly.

I stepped back behind him.

The door burst open.

Warriors rushed in with their spears leveled.

“Who goes there!”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon didn’t answer.

Instead, he traced the air with his fingertips.

Srrrk.

And then, nothing happened.

The warriors paused for a heartbeat, then charged again.

In that instant—

Their bodies went rigid on the spot.

They could only roll their eyes; not a single step could they move.

“You… flipped the formation.”

“Only for a moment.”

The Heavenly Demon walked out leisurely.

I followed.

Outside, even more martial artists were gathering.

The division head in charge of the branch appeared with quite a menacing aura.

He wore silver armor and held an axe.

“How dare you…!”

Just as he was about to shout, the Heavenly Demon looked at him.

With that single glance, all his momentum broke.

The division head’s lips trembled.

“Y-You’re…”

A sunken voice leaked from his mouth.

“Seol Yu-won…”

The Heavenly Demon gave no reply.

Instead, he moved toward the horse.

Then the division head cried out desperately.

“Stop them!”

Streams of qi surged from all directions.

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them moments later, everything was quiet.

People lay sprawled on the ground.

Not a single breath could be heard.

“……”

If he didn’t want to lose his newly gained disciple, the Heavenly Demon would personally step in.

It was as I expected.

The Heavenly Demon dismounted and stepped forward.

His expression was calm, but was he perhaps slightly regretting taking me as his disciple inside?

“Watch closely. This is the path you must walk from here on.”

The Heavenly Demon did not like long-winded words.

The Lanzhou division head of the Heretical Alliance drew his weapon and yammered on, but in that moment—

————!

With a single move.

With one gesture drawing from left to right, everything ended.

A dazzling, vast light like the Milky Way blossomed at his fingertips and embroidered the Lanzhou branch.

And the result.

Kwarrrrrng—

The Heretical Alliance’s Lanzhou branch was gone.

To be precise, every building had collapsed, but considering the time needed to restore it, it would be better for them to just relocate.

“……”

I couldn’t say anything.

It was a sight that words like “beautiful” or “dazzling” couldn’t describe.

The Greatest Under Heaven Across Ages.

The title I’d used for the Heavenly Demon wasn’t a lie.

I truly believed that.

“We’re going back.”

The Heavenly Demon spurred his horse.

I reflexively checked the saddlebags.

A cold energy brushed my fingertips.

“…They’re here.”

“Yes.”

We left Lanzhou.

The city’s noise gradually receded.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

I spoke first.

“Master.”

“What.”

“Thank you.”

The Heavenly Demon didn’t answer.

He only gave the slightest nod.

I took out a Tranquil Frost Pill.

Its lightly frosted surface tingled my fingertips with cold.

“Can I take it now?”

“You may.”

I tossed it into my mouth.

Crunch—the chalky crumble felt strange.

A cool energy slid down my throat at once.

My lower abdomen cooled like ice.

“…Hoo.”

I exhaled long.

I felt the qi and blood inside me about to surge, then quietly subside.

“It works.”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll try it tonight.”

“What.”

“The Nine Heavens Demon-Ascension Art.”

The Heavenly Demon’s gaze shifted ever so slightly.

“You said you’ll make it to the entry stage.”

“Yes.”

“How long do you think it will take.”

“I had said three days, right?”

“You did.”

“I think I can do it in two.”

A brief silence.

The wind brushed past and rustled the grass.

The Heavenly Demon asked.

“Your basis.”

“My intuition.”

“Intuition.”

“Yes.”

A very slight change touched the corner of his mouth.

Too faint to call a smile, yet too clear to be a mistake.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Yes.”

The sun was slanting down.

We returned to the inn.

As soon as we entered the room, I sat down.

I folded my legs and evened my breathing.

The Heavenly Demon sat across from me.

“Begin.”

I closed my eyes.

I recalled the mnemonic verses of the Nine Heavens Demon-Ascension Art.

Not missing a single character, not a single strand.

At the center of my chest, a tiny spark-like energy rose.

I slowly sent that spark down to my lower abdomen.

Along a single thread.

Through minor meridians, brushing between bones, passing through acupoints.

Carefully, yet without hesitation.

The lower dantian.

There, I paused the energy just a touch.

The icy energy of the Tranquil Frost Pill blended with my lower dantian.

Tremor.

A very faint trembling stirred deep in my belly.

“……”

I inhaled longer and exhaled longer.

Mind calm, consciousness clear.

Then, the spark circled round.

Once, twice, thrice.

“…It’s working.”

It was small and weak, but unmistakable.

My lower dantian… was forming.

I slowly opened my eyes.

The Heavenly Demon was quietly watching me.

“It was.”

He said.

“Faster than three days.”

“Yes.”

“Do not overdo it.”

“I understand.”

I closed my eyes again.

I’ll stop here for tonight.

By tomorrow night, surely.

Thinking so, I settled my breathing.

Outside the window, insects chirped.

Slowly, very slowly, time passed.

“You.”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice came.

“Yes?”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

My chest gave a start.

He hasn’t sensed something, has he?

Even if he’s the Heavenly Demon, that shouldn’t be possible, yet I was uneasy.

Because he’s the Heavenly Demon.

“Martial arts has no end. Do not be lax; train without ceasing.”

“Yes.”

With only those words, the Heavenly Demon closed his eyes and sat still.

Is he asleep?

‘…As expected of such an odd fellow—he even sleeps sitting up.’

I watched him for a moment, then sank back into my cultivation.