Chapter 65: If You Refuse, You'll Be Dragged to the Outer Regions

TL: FoodieMonster007

I went to the Demon Village branch on business and then stopped by the Alluring Inn.

As always, Jo Cheonbae greeted me warmly.

"Welcome, Director."

"I was feeling a bit hungry, so I stopped by."

"I'll have your favorites prepared deliciously for you."

Jo Cheonbae started for the kitchen, but suddenly turned and asked.

"Director. May I ask you something?"

"Ask away."

"Someone like you, Director, could go to much better inns. Why do you always come to ours?"

"You still don't know?"

"Please, tell me."

"The alcohol is good, the food is delicious, the atmosphere is great, you bring me my favorites without me having to ask, and the owner is handsome. Do you need any more reasons?"

"That's more than enough. I'll get your food ready right away."

He ran to the kitchen with light steps and a wide smile.

He probably doesn't know how important this place is to me. This Demon Village is the very foundation of the demonic path I intend to build.

Neither the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who is here now, nor the Eight Demon Supremes are as important as Jo Cheonbae and the residents here. The moment I forget this place, no matter how I package myself, it will be hard to find any difference between me and the Eight Demon Supremes.

A moment later, just as Jo Cheonbae brought out the food, a commotion erupted outside.

I went to the window and looked down. A large, obviously drunk man stood over someone on the ground, yelling angrily.

"What are you glaring at, you bastard?"

"I wasn't glaring."

"Yes, you were."

The large man struck him without hesitation.

"How dare this bastard lie to me!"

The beaten man had been walking with his family. His wife stepped forward to intervene.

"Please, stop!"

"Get out of the way! Don't you bring your bad luck here, wench!"

The brute showed no mercy. He shoved the woman roughly, sending her to the ground. A child, about six or seven years old, ran to her.

"……"

The child was terrified, seeing his daddy and mom being hit.

The child's crying only annoyed the large man.

"Shut up, you little brat!"

He raised his hand to strike the child.

POW!

The large man flew backward.

The man on the ground had shot up and punched him.

The wife and child ran to the man.

The woman was surprised that her husband had knocked the large man down.

"How did you…?"

"My fist just flew out on its own."

The man who threw the punch also looked bewildered.

"Let's go, quickly."

"Right."

The family hurried away.

After they left, the large man slowly got to his feet.

"That bastard! Where did he go? I'm going to find him and kill that bitch and her kid. Does anyone know who that guy was? Speak up!"

The brute grabbed a bystander by the collar, making a scene.

Just then, a voice called from the second floor.

"Is this really something to go that far over?"

The large man looked up toward the voice.

"Who was that who just spouted that nonsense?"

I was the one waving from the second-floor window.

The drunk man didn't recognize me. Countless low-level martial artists didn't know my face.

Jo Cheonbae, standing behind me, whispered that the man was a known troublemaker in the marketplace. Even without him telling me, I could guess the brute's usual conduct. Several people in the crowd had recognized me, yet no one warned him.

"Was it really necessary to beat a father in front of his child just because your eyes met?"

"Who are you to lecture me, you young punk? And hey, you bastard, I got hit too!"

That was my doing.

If I had stepped in and punished the brute myself, the child would have to live with the memory of his daddy and mom being beaten for the rest of his life.

That's why I moved the man's body with telekinesis to land that one punch. I did it hoping the child would remember his father as a brave man.

"You're going to annihilate a family because you got hit once? Does this really need to escalate this far?"

"Get down here! You can die in his place."

"I was planning on it anyway."

I leaped down. The large man seized the opportunity and threw a punch.

I lightly dodged the fist, then grabbed his wrist and twisted it. KWA-DEU-DEU-DEUK! His arm twisted like a wet rag in an instant.

"Aaargh! It hurts! You bastard. You!"

He charged at me like a madman, so I broke his other arm without hesitation.

"Aaaaaargh!"

The brute screamed that the pain was killing him. The alcohol kept him conscious, otherwise he would have already passed out.

"Right? This didn't have to go this far, did it? It wasn't something to beat a man over just for making eye contact, nor was it something to annihilate a family over for getting hit once, and it wasn't something to get your arms crippled over for acting like an ass while drunk, was it? So why did you do it? When none of this had to happen."

The man glared at me as if he wanted to kill me instead of begging for forgiveness.

A life spent hitting and tormenting others failed to produce a single moment of wisdom, even at the very end. He'll probably regret it later, blaming it on the alcohol.

"……"

The brute lunged to headbutt me. I shattered his qi center, and he finally passed out.

I had our Cult's patrolling martial artists take the man to the Sanzu River Hall. I intended to uncover all his crimes and give him the maximum prison sentence.

Those who knew him looked satisfied despite his miserable state.

I addressed the onlookers.

"Nowhere in our Cult is there a law that says you can commit evil deeds just because you are a demon follower. In the future, if any of our Cult's martial artists act like this, over there…."

I pointed to the Sanzu River Hall branch across from the inn.

"Report them to that place!"

Jo Cheonbae started the applause, and soon everyone was cheering and clapping. It was no exaggeration to say my popularity in the Demon Village surpassed my father's.

Jo Cheonbae came over, his face joyful.

"Today's meal is on me."

Just then, someone spoke from behind me.

"Mind if I get a free meal as well?"

I turned and was surprised to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader standing there.

I looked at Jo Cheonbae and said.

"If you refuse, you'll be dragged to the Outer Regions. He is the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, after all."

Jo Cheonbae's eyes widened as if he would faint. He had hosted several high-profile guests because of me, but now the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader himself was a customer.

I sat facing the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader at my usual table on the second floor.

"Were you serious earlier? That being a demon follower doesn't mean you should take evil for granted."

"……"

"That doesn't sound like something the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would say."

"I don't like being stuck in a mold. That's how young people are these days."

"I suppose I'm just old-fashioned."

"Keep young people by your side. With an open mind. Thanks to that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon has been looking younger lately."

"Is that so? Hahaha."

I refilled the laughing Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's cup.

"By the way, it seems the rumors were wrong."

"What rumors?"

"I heard you never stray a single step from your divine artifacts, Cult Leader, but I see you out quite often."

His visit last time, and his presence now, showed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was breaking his own principles.

"Perhaps it's because I trust the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult more than the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult?"

He meant he trusted my father. He said it like a joke, but he must have been serious. His faith that my father would never allow the divine artifacts to be stolen within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was the reason.

I smiled and picked up my chopsticks.

"Here, please eat."

I expected the food wouldn't suit the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's palate, since he only eats high-class cuisine, but he cleaned his plate. I thought he might be less formal than I had assumed.

"The food is quite good."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

We drank tea instead of alcohol after the meal. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said he disliked drinking with meals and always drank tea immediately after eating.

"Have you tried to manifest the Spacetime Manipulation Technique?"

"……"

"Everyone fails at first, so don't worry too much about it."

He assumed I had failed to create the space. He had said the first attempt takes several days at the very least, so he naturally thought my presence here meant I had failed.

"I succeeded."

"What?"

"The space was magnificent. I think I'm going to become completely engrossed in this martial art."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was utterly astonished.

"You've already manifested it?"

"……"

"How long did it take you to manifest it?"

"It took about four hours."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was so shocked he let out a short gasp.

"Really?"

His expression was one of utter disbelief.

"It seems to be a martial art that suits my aptitude well."

"Frankly, I find that hard to believe."

"Why would I lie?"

"Unless you're a martial arts genius, that's… no, even a martial arts genius couldn't do it in four hours!"

I didn't insist on the four hours and simply sipped my tea.

"Is it true?"

I nodded.

"Can you show me later?"

He shouldn't have been so persistent out of courtesy, but I understood his suspicion and readily nodded.

"Of course."

"Thank you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader downed the cold tea in one gulp, as if his insides were burning.

I waited for him to calm down before asking calmly.

"So, why did you come looking for me today?"

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"Please, go on."

"The Demonic Buddha is trying to send me back to the Outer Regions."

"For what reason?"

"Because of you."

"Because of me?"

"He's wary that you and I might join hands. So, I need you to create a pretext for me to stay."

I have a feeling he didn't come to me just for that. How could he have come asking, not knowing if I could create a pretext for him? This is an excuse to get closer to me. There's a way to confirm it.

"What will you give me in return?"

"That's a bit cold, between us."

"There is no 'us' between you and me yet, Cult Leader. We've had one transaction, that's all."

I cannot show him any openings. I have to appear thorough and meticulous to lead the deal in my favor. That's also why I told him I mastered the Spacetime Manipulation Technique in four hours. To give him infinite confidence that he can trust me.

"What do you want?"

"May I choose one of the divine artifacts you brought?"

For a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression hardened. "Are you insane?"

I replied calmly, as if asking a question back. "Not as insane as you, Cult Leader, who is actually trying to advance into the Central Plains in this chaotic situation after a Demon Supreme has died!"

I entered his residence with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

He had accepted my proposal. Just as I expected, he wanted to join hands with me. Enough to give me one of his precious divine artifacts. This wasn't payment for a favor, it was a gift.

Why on earth would he go to such lengths to ally with me? He must have had some change of heart.

In the room, a man in shackles sat with his back to us, gazing at the Echoing Thunder Bell.

When I retrieved the Bloodeye Holy Water, I briefly thought about how I couldn't get him out. I thought I'd never see him again in this life, but here we are.

"Who is that man?"

I asked the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, feigning ignorance. As I did, I saw the way the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at him. It wasn't the gaze one gives a subordinate or a slave.

The man offered no greeting, even though the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had entered. Normally, he would have turned.

I was certain their relationship wasn't a typical one of master and servant.

"He is a subordinate who guards the Echoing Thunder Bell."

"I see."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked over the divine artifacts and said quietly.

"Among the divine artifacts, you must not ask for the Echoing Thunder Bell or the Bloody Buddha."

"Yes, I understand. So that bell is the famous Echoing Thunder Bell of the Heavenly Wind Cult."

I walked toward the Echoing Thunder Bell as if seeing it for the first time.

The memory of taking this Echoing Thunder Bell in my past life flashed before my eyes. It felt as if the demon carved into the bell looked at me and asked, 'You again?'

"How is it, seeing it in person?"

"It's incredible."

As I spoke, I glanced at the shackled man.

In truth, I'm more interested in this man than the Echoing Thunder Bell. I used it as an excuse to get closer to him.

Just then, the man, who had been bowing his head, slightly raised it and looked at me. Our eyes met through his long, disheveled hair. He was much younger than I had thought, and his eyes were clear.

The man lowered his head again. It was only a brief meeting of our gazes, but his eyes were somehow hard to forget.

"Now, make your choice."

"I will."

I slowly examined the display case.

Of course, I know very well what all of these artifacts are.

I chose one of the divine artifacts.

"Please give me this one."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression instantly hardened.

That's when I saw it. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was about to unconsciously say no, but he flinched and shut his mouth.

I felt it instinctively. A fact as important as the divine artifact I had chosen. The man in shackles sent a telepathic message to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!