Chapter 69: Dirty Tricks Are Effective

TL: FoodieMonster007

I stepped into the Northern Heaven Sword Sect.

Sa Woojong guided me to the Flower Sword Supreme, just as he always did.

"Welcome, Director."

"Martial Artist Sa, have you been well?"

"I have been well, thanks to your concern."

He greeted me with his usual demeanor. He showed no sign of the deep resentment he must have felt after the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme failed to push me away.

Today, I would use Cheong Seon as bait. I planned to reel him in with his own hidden ambitions.

"Welcome!"

The Flower Sword Supreme greeted me warmly. She seemed much brighter than the last time I saw her.

"You look even younger."

She led me to the flowerbed after my compliment.

"Come here and look at this."

A sprout had poked through the soil where she pointed.

"It's the seed you gave me as a gift."

"Oh! It's already grown."

"Yes, life is this mysterious."

I felt the aura of Sa Woojong, who stood behind us, sink even lower. I had been secretly emitting my qi to observe him since I arrived.

My skill with this technique, learned from my father, had become far more proficient. I could now not only grasp an opponent's presence and appearance but also feel their emotions.

I secretly sent a telepathic message to the Sword Supreme.

[Could you ask Sa Woojong to bring some liquor and snacks? I need to leak some information to him. I'll tell you the reason later.]

[I understand.]

The Flower Sword Supreme asked Sa Woojong to bring liquor. As Sa Woojong answered politely and turned away, his emotions grew even more savage.

She, who never drank, was now drinking with me. She even spoke informally only to me.

Judging by the change in his emotions, he probably thought I had stolen the Flower Sword Supreme from him. I guessed his relationship with Cheong Seon wasn't normal either. His final moments had said it all.

A short while later, Sa Woojong returned with the liquor and snacks. I dropped a piece of information, speaking to the Flower Sword Supreme but intending for Sa Woojong to hear.

"Currently, the most likely candidates for the next Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme are the first disciple, Yang Do, and the third disciple, Cheong Seon."

I felt Sa Woojong flinch when I mentioned Cheong Seon.

"I heard that Yang Do is the more likely candidate."

"That's right. However, it's not as if Cheong Seon has no options."

"What options does she have?"

The Flower Sword Supreme continued the conversation. She must have been curious why we were discussing this in front of Sa Woojong, but she acted naturally and showed no sign of it.

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader is visiting our Cult, isn't he? The martial arts learned by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme share the same roots. If Cheong Seon can just receive a martial arts transmission from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, she has a chance of winning."

"Will the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader really accept her?"

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader will accept her. The Heavenly Wind Cult has always wanted to advance into the Central Plains. Taking Cheong Seon as his disciple would create a pretext for him to remain. It's Cheong Seon who would be reluctant to accept."

"Why is that?"

"It seems the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was thorough in educating her disciples. She likely wouldn't have had anything good to say about her nemesis, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader."

"That would make sense."

"In the end, if things continue like this, Yang Do will become the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. Cheong Seon will unfortunately miss her chance."

Sa Woojong left after setting down the liquor and snacks. I spoke quickly while he placed the items on the table slowly. He moved his feet deliberately, listening to as much as he could before departing. He had heard all the key points.

This was enough.

I believed Sa Woojong would definitely persuade Cheong Seon to become the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's disciple. A man so full of ambition would never let his lover miss the chance to become the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

Once I confirmed he was gone, the Flower Sword Supreme finally asked her question.

"Why did you make such a request?"

"Sa Woojong is in a relationship with Cheong Seon. Did you know?"

"Sa Woojong is? I had no idea."

"I don't know if you're aware, but my investigation revealed that Sa Woojong is a man of great ambition. He is someone who might try to manipulate you from behind the scenes, Senior."

I warned her but stopped short of telling her that Sa Woojong was personally infatuated with her.

"I had a rough idea."

"I was keeping an eye on Sa Woojong in case he might bring you harm, Senior, when I discovered their relationship. An opportunity to use that fact arose, which is why I made this request."

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

"I'm the one who is grateful. Please remain wary of him, but for now, it would be best if you handle matters related to Sa Woojong as you always have."

"I will."

I planned to repay her help with what she desired most.

"Let's have a duel soon."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

Honestly, I was the one looking forward to it.

I want to see just how helpful the Divine Eye Technique will be in a real fight.

However, that would have to wait until after I handled this matter.

As I left, I glanced back. I saw her standing in the yard with her hands clasped behind her back, looking up at the sky.

This thatched cottage no longer seemed hypocritical.

That night, Sa Woojong gave his all in bed.

Cheong Seon felt a pleasure she had never experienced before.

Drenched in sweat, the two lay side by side.

"Did something happen today?"

"No. Why?"

"You're not like your usual self."

"……"

"It was amazing."

Sa Woojong was certainly different. He was the first to embrace her as he asked.

"You've been busy lately, haven't you?"

"There are people who say I should become the Demon Supreme."

"What do you think?"

"Who would dislike the position of Demon Supreme? It's just that I'm not confident I can beat my Senior Brother."

"You must become the Demon Supreme."

"……"

"If your Senior Brother becomes the Demon Supreme, he won't let you live."

"Senior Brother is… not that kind of person."

"You just hesitated, didn't you? You hesitated because you know he is that kind of person."

"……"

"The moment you were mentioned as a successor, you were already standing on a dueling stage. You can only descend after a life-or-death battle."

Sa Woojong sincerely wished for Cheong Seon to become the Demon Supreme.

If that happened, he could wield the immense power of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme from the shadows. His heart pounded just thinking about it.

At the end of this lust for power was a twisted desire to become stronger and stronger.

One day, I will make the Sword Supreme my woman.

Cheong Seon quietly stared into Sa Woojong's eyes as he blankly gazed at the painting of the Flower Sword Supreme on the wall.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"About how I can put you in the Demon Supreme's seat."

"There's no way right now."

"There is. There's one way."

"What is it?"

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader is here right now. If you receive a martial arts transmission from him, you can beat your Senior Brother."

"That's ridiculous! You know as well as I do that martial arts don't improve that quickly."

"You were born with a natural talent, weren't you? Besides, your opponent is the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. If you learn just one secret technique, you can easily defeat your Senior Brother."

"If I become the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's disciple, the other Demon Supremes will hate me."

"This is a matter of life and death. You have to survive first and think later."

Sa Woojong pressed into her.

He did not rest until he heard the answer he wanted from her lips.

"Cheap bastards! I never imagined they could be this cheap."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not contain his anger.

"Does this not bother you at all?"

The shackled man just stared silently at the Echoing Thunder Bell.

"Say something."

"Didn't you expect this? That they would try to send us back one way or another."

"I did, yes, I did, but I didn't think they'd use such a dirty method. Does this make any sense? Playing games with food?"

A report had just arrived. The rice and side dishes provided to his subordinates in the outer court had changed. The quantity had decreased and the quality had dropped. Good meat was replaced with lumps of fat, and the liquor with cheap swill.

"Who would believe it? That the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would play such cheap games with food. They might as well just poison us!"

Worse, the ones eating that food were the Ten Great Demons and the hundred soldiers of the Blood Army, the core strength of the Heavenly Wind Cult. He couldn't just stand by, if only for the shame of it.

"The cheapest methods are the most effective. To be precise, this is the Demonic Buddha's work, not the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's. This Cult Leader here would sooner kick us out with force than resort to something like this."

"That little runt wasn't this bad."

"The situation has pushed him. It's his job to persuade you, Cult Leader. He needs to send you back one way or another to save face with the other Demon Supremes."

"This is not an issue I can just let slide."

It was a matter directly connected to his own honor. He could not show his subordinates the sight of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult treating him so poorly.

"I'm going to go confront the Cult Leader."

"And what will you say when you get there? Are you going to demand he give you rice?"

"I have to, of course I have to. I'll have to shout that his damn subordinate stole all my subordinates' food. I'll have to roll on the floor of the Heavenly Demon Hall and tattle on him, saying I've never seen such a cheap trick in my life."

"Then have a safe trip."

Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not do that. The arrow of his anger turned elsewhere.

"What in the world is that braggart, the Second Young Lord, doing? He said he'd find a way."

"Wait patiently."

"I'm saying this because I can't be patient right now."

"Those who respect the Cult Leader will respect you even if they starve. Those who hate the Cult Leader will hate you even if you feed them a feast for all three meals. So you don't need to worry about it."

"That's not how the world works. The ones who respect me will feel resentful, thinking, 'I respect him this much, and he lets me starve?' And the ones who hate me will sow discord, saying, 'I knew this pathetic fool would end up like this.'"

"Then keep only those who can withstand all those storms."

"Damn it! To hell with it!"

Just then, a message came from outside that Cheong Seon had arrived.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at the shackled man with a surprised expression.

The shackled man wore a knowing expression and a faint smile.

Soon after, Cheong Seon entered and bowed respectfully.

"I greet the revered Supreme One of the Outer Regions. I am Cheong Seon of the Western Illusion Sanctum."

"I have heard much about you. The greatest shaman of the Western Illusion Sanctum, is it?"

"You are too kind. I apologize for not visiting sooner."

"Not at all. I'm grateful that you've come now."

"I once heard from my late Master that the roots of the martial arts I learned lie in the Blood Cult."

"That is correct. In that sense, we can be considered fellow disciples. So, have you been taught all the martial arts from your Demon Supreme?"

"Unfortunately, I have not. That is why I am making this request. Please take me as your disciple!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at the shackled man and sent a telepathic message.

[The Second Young Lord is a madman.]

[This is why. This is why we must remain the Second Young Lord until the very end.]

[Damn it! Just thinking about him coming to receive my divine object makes me feel so sick I could throw up.]

[Let's take this opportunity to broaden that narrow mind of yours.]

[Shut up!]

While this mental conversation happened, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression remained utterly solemn.

"For the demonic art of the Outer Regions to shine in the Central Plains is something I truly desire. However, I don't know if your Cult Leader will permit this precious bond of ours."

"I understand that our Cult has no restrictions regarding a master-disciple relationship. Besides, since this will ultimately strengthen the Western Illusion Sanctum, I'm sure the Cult Leader won't oppose it."

"Are you alright with this? Your Senior Brother will surely take issue with it."

"Please teach me. Teach me how to defeat my Senior Brother."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke to her in a low voice.

"Your Senior Brother might kill you."

At that, Cheong Seon lifted her head and looked at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Her gaze was not that of a passive woman swayed by a man. The innocent girl who shared a bed with Sa Woojong and the woman in this room were clearly different people.

Sa Woojong did not know.

He did not know that her submissive demeanor in bed was merely a small part of her. He did not know that what he felt as her love stemmed not from affection, but from her terrible self-love, which would never yield what was hers. He did not know she was a vicious woman who would destroy what she could not possess. Sa Woojong knew nothing.

Cheong Seon smiled faintly. "But I can't just let myself be killed, can I?"

Reading the raw madness in her eyes that only a villainess could possess, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader smiled with satisfaction.

"I look forward to the next Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme."