Chapter 57: Hoping Another Monster Doesn't Emerge

TL: FoodieMonster007

The next day, news of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's death struck the Cult.

While several people had died recently, the death of a Demon Supreme was a problem on an entirely different level. The Cult declared a state of emergency and began a full-scale investigation.

Our Sanzu River Hall went to investigate the incident. The matter was so grave that all Special Investigators and twenty executive martial artists traveled to the Western Illusion Sanctum.

His disciples and shamans formed a blockade in front of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's residence.

"You can't enter."

They absolutely refused to let us in. They were flustered and unsure how to handle the situation. Their plan was to block our entry until the other Demon Supremes made a decision.

I didn't bother clashing with them.

"Fine. Then at least let the Medical Elder in. The body needs to be preserved, and we have to determine the exact cause of death, don't we?"

The Medical Elder was a politically neutral figure whom everyone in the Cult trusted and respected, so they didn't refuse the proposal.

After a long, thorough examination, the Medical Elder emerged and spoke to me and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's disciples.

"It seems he died from severe damage to his heart and the blood vessels throughout his body, caused by excessively circulating his internal qi. There are no signs of an intruder or a struggle nearby, and he wasn't poisoned by any potent toxins. It appears he died from qi deviation."

The disciples sighed in despair at his words, while I was inwardly pleased.

Now that the Medical Elder had declared 'qi deviation', we could avoid the task of finding a culprit.

As we left the Western Illusion Sanctum to report to the Heavenly Demon Hall, Seo Daeryong asked cautiously.

"…It wasn't you, was it?"

"What wasn't me?"

"You know, that."

As if he didn't dare say it aloud, Seo Daeryong sent a telepathic message.

[Director, you didn't kill the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, did you?]

[Why? Do you think I killed him?]

[…You brought that child to me yesterday, didn't you? The one who was almost sacrificed to the Great Mind Control Technique.]

Was that all? Two months ago, when I left the Cult, he had mentioned the look in my eyes, the one that said I would make the impossible possible. Now, that impossibility has become a reality.

[Do you really want to know?]

[No, not at all! I'd rather not know. I'll head back first.]

Seo Daeryong turned and walked back toward the Sanzu River Hall.

I could see the Heavenly Demon Hall in the distance. I wondered how Father would react.

I walked slowly down the path of blood.

Father sat on his grand throne, as always. The Head Strategist, Sama Myeong, was with him today.

After I greeted them both, Sama Myeong asked me.

"Second Young Lord, how was your trip outside the Cult?"

"The work was just an excuse. I had a good time."

"You look much better for it."

"Strategist, you should also get some fresh air and slack off a bit instead of only working."

"The one day you decide to take a break after a lifetime of not doing so is usually the day the enemy attacks."

We both smiled at Sama Myeong's joke.

After this lighthearted banter, I reported on the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's death.

"The Medical Elder concluded it was qi deviation."

Father and Sama Myeong said nothing for a moment.

I could feel it. Neither of them believed the result.

What are the chances that someone of a Demon Supreme's caliber would suddenly die from qi deviation?

So I made the first move.

"It's hard to believe that someone like the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme would suffer from qi deviation. There's a possibility he was murdered."

"That possibility exists."

"The Sanzu River Hall will investigate the case."

"The Demon Supremes will step up to investigate this matter."

"We won't be doing it?"

"Traditionally, the Heavenly Demon Hall can't intervene in matters concerning the death of a Demon Supreme. We can only watch how things unfold."

"Well, if that's the case, I won't get involved. It's easier for us, which is good."

After we discussed a few more things about the incident, Sama Myeong excused himself.

Once Sama Myeong left, Father asked me point-blank.

"How did you kill him?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking how you killed the Soul-Stealing Demon."

Father's emotion wasn't anger, but curiosity. He wasn't the type to hold any lingering attachment to the dead. He was probably thinking something like this.

How on earth did this bastard kill the Soul-Stealing Demon? And to have the cause of death be qi deviation, no less.

"I'd love to give you a cool answer right now, explaining exactly how I did it, but you're overestimating me. No matter how talented I am, I'm not great enough to make the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme die from qi deviation."

To be honest, I wanted to tell Father the truth.

However, there was no way for me to explain how I obtained the Bloodeye Holy Water. It was truly fortunate that the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's death was ruled as qi deviation.

If he had died in a fight instead of from qi deviation, they would have thoroughly analyzed the cause of death to find out who killed him. I would have had to bury the body somewhere. In any case, it would have been a much bigger headache than this.

"I was drinking with Elder Blade Demon all night yesterday. He can vouch for my whereabouts."

Father just scoffed.

"Did the two of you go and kill him together?"

"No. Absolutely not. Father, this is a punishment from the heavens. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was a monster who gouged out people's hearts with a mountain keep."

Father already believes I killed him anyway.

Nevertheless, there was another reason I didn't tell him the truth. It was a truth that would become a burden to him. He would be in a position where he'd have to turn a blind eye, knowing I had killed a Demon Supreme.

After looking down at me in silence for a moment, Father said abruptly.

"Now that the Soul-Stealing Demon is dead, the other Demon Supremes who have been quiet will start to move."

The Eight Demon Supremes are a community bound by life and death. The death of one is a threat to all. Just as Father suspected me, it was possible they would suspect me too.

I looked at Father and said calmly, "I just hope that another monster doesn't emerge in the process."

After leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, I visited the Northern Heaven Sword Sect.

Sa Woojong greeted me.

"Welcome, Second Young Lord."

He faced me with a brighter expression than usual.

Sa Woojong, oh Sa Woojong. Do you know that, strictly speaking, you're the one who killed the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme?

If he hadn't drawn in the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, I never would have learned about the Great Mind Control Technique.

The person most surprised and flustered by this situation must be this very Sa Woojong. I was supposed to be the one who died, but instead, it was the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

He guided me to the front of the thatched hut, bowed politely, and turned to leave.

"Please, have your conversation."

He was definitely not a good person, but I couldn't punish him for dragging in the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

My plan is to pretend I don't know, keep an eye on him, and use him if an opportunity arises.

"Welcome, Second Young Lord."

The Flower Sword Supreme, who once tended her flower garden without even looking back at me, now greeted me warmly.

"Have you been well?"

"I heard you left the Cult. Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes. I just got some fresh air and came back."

"Second Young Lord, you improve by leaps and bounds every time I see you."

"Do I seem different to you?"

Was it because of our three-day duel? She was certainly sensitive to changes in me.

"Enough to make me want to challenge you to a duel right this instant."

"Let's arrange for one soon."

"Excellent. You're welcome anytime."

I held out what I had brought for her.

"It's a small gift, but it's for you, Senior."

I had brought seeds that were difficult to find in this region.

"I brought them because I heard they grow into fragrant flowers."

"Oh, this is the first time in my life I've received seeds as a gift."

"It's my first time giving them."

"Thank you. I'll take good care of them. Now, come inside for a cup of tea."

I entered her house for the first time. The place was decorated in a Dan Ah style and smelled pleasant.

"Your home is cozy and nice."

"Nice? It's just a place where an old woman lives alone. There's nothing special about it."

"Old? Why don't you try walking down the streets of Hangzhou with me? I bet men would be hitting on you, asking you to drink with them every ten steps."

"What nonsense!" she said, waving her hands dismissively, but she couldn't hide her smile. She was more susceptible to this kind of compliment than praise for her excellent swordsmanship.

"Let's go sometime. With Elder Blade Demon, too."

At the mention of the Blade Demon, her expression hardened slightly. She was still on bad terms with the Blade Demon. She just tried not to show it because I was in the middle. Reconciling her with the Blade Demon was still no easy task.

She smoothly changed the subject.

"Did you hear the news that the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme is dead?"

"Yes, I heard."

"Were you… involved in his death?" she asked, staring at me intently.

In that moment, her gaze was cold. Separate from her goodwill toward me, the death of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was something that put the other Demon Supremes on edge.

The principle that if one falls, all could fall was their long-standing survival rule.

"The Medical Elder concluded that he died from qi deviation."

"Not a single Demon Supreme will believe that."

"Still, it wasn't me."

The Flower Sword Supreme withdrew her suspicious gaze at my firm words, but I couldn't tell if she had also withdrawn it in her heart.

"Why did you think it was me?"

It was probably because of our duel. She knew my skills were on par with her spirit possession.

"Because the lake is rippling from the waves you've created. Ah, but you said you prefer not a lake, but a stormy sea, didn't you? The moment you stepped in, the once-calm lake had already turned into a sea. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was the first to drown in that sea."

"I'm the one fishing in that sea. I don't push people in to drown."

"That must be right. Since you've already caught the Blade Demon."

"Would it be difficult to catch you, Senior?"

"It might be possible if you release the fish you've already caught. I have no desire to enter a net that the Blade Demon is already trapped in."

I smiled faintly, but she did not.

"You never know with people. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was so careful and protective of himself… to think he'd be the first to die like this."

"The Western Illusion Sanctum will be in chaos for a while."

"A fight for succession will break out."

When a Demon Supreme dies, a successor takes their place. To become the successor, one must be acknowledged by four of the seven remaining Demon Supremes.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme had five disciples. Since he died before officially naming a successor, the most outstanding of the five will succeed him.

"Who do you support?"

"Why are you curious about that?"

"Wouldn't it be better if one of our people took over?"

"Our people?"

"Yes, our people. Us, the duel friends."

I made my move before she could think of the Blade Demon.

The phrase 'duel friends' must have amused her, because she finally smiled faintly.

"I can share a purpose with a duel friend."

After talking with her for a bit longer, I bid her farewell.

"I'll be taking my leave for today."

"Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule."

The Flower Sword Supreme followed me out to the yard.

"Second Young Lord. When you fish, some fish are easy to catch, while others put up a tense fight in the water, but be careful. Some fish might leap out and attack the fisherman, or even capsize the boat."

In short, she was telling me to be wary of the other members of the Eight Demon Supremes, aside from the Blade Demon and herself.

"Thank you for your concern."

"And don't forget, I'm not a caught fish yet."

"The fact that you're giving me this advice means you're already halfway caught, doesn't it?"

The Flower Sword Supreme didn't seem too displeased at being told she was halfway caught. Perhaps she acknowledged that it was about right.

"Then, please take care until we meet again."

After leaving the hut and walking a short distance, I looked back and saw her in the yard, planting the seeds I had given her in the soil. It felt like just yesterday that she was glaring at me menacingly, yet our relationship had already become like this.

She was right. You really never know with people.

Just as Father and the Flower Sword Supreme had warned, the seven Demon Supremes held a meeting that very day.

It was a special meeting arranged because of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's death. Since only the Demon Supremes attended, not even Father knew what they discussed.

On the night of the meeting, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to see me. His expression was not good.

"Got any alcohol?"