Chapter 113: To the Fated One

TL: FoodieMonster007

I slowly walked into the Myriad Evil Cave.

The Evil Alliance had made the cave a sacred place, so its interior was well-decorated. Luminous pearls embedded everywhere kept it bright, and the air circulated well.

I walked for some time before a wide space opened up. This was the Myriad Evil Cave. A newly constructed wall recorded the life of the Myriad Evil Sect Leader in words and pictures.

The wall detailed his entire life story, from his unfortunate birth and childhood to his arduous martial arts training. It told tales of his youthful exploits and his eventual rise to become the grandmaster of the unorthodox sects.

But that was all. There was nothing else, which was why Bi Sayin had let me in. It was just a record of the life of a legendary unorthodox master from three hundred years ago.

The peak of his life was his fight with the Heavenly Demon. He could not win, but he became a legend for surviving the battle.

The wall records stated he stayed here for ten days to treat his injuries before leaving. He survived because he fortunately found water.

It was written that he went into seclusion afterward and never showed himself in the murim again.

The wall did not mention that he left behind a discourse on his martial arts here before he died.

Then how did it become known?

Ten years from now, an earthquake will strike this place, collapsing a wall and discovering a new space.

I drew the Black Demon Sword.

JIIING.

A sky-blue enhanced sword qi enveloped the Black Demon Sword.

I plunged the sword, wreathed in enhanced sword qi, into the lower west wall. I cut a neat opening along the dividing line below the murals, just large enough for one person to pass through.

This was the same wall that would collapse in the future. It was not thick. Once I cut deep enough, I used my inner arts to push the stone slab, which fell inward.

I crawled through the opening. In this inner space, the Myriad Evil Sect Leader had left his final thoughts on his martial arts before he died.

A discourse on his martial arts covered the wall. He must have left it in a secret space because he only wanted someone with a fated connection to see it.

I read it slowly.

It was a discourse on his entire martial arts, based on the enlightenment he gained from his fight with the Heavenly Demon.

The Myriad Evil Sect Leader's martial arts were incredibly profound and lofty. For ordinary masters, it was all abstract nonsense that would be useless even if they read it a hundred times. However, I was no ordinary master.

I read the legacy of the unorthodox path's greatest master from the last three hundred years again and again. Memorization was unnecessary. It was a matter of understanding.

At first, I found enlightenment in the differences. The unorthodox martial arts offered new lessons, completely different from our Cult's demonic art.

However, as I read it over and over, I realized that all martial arts ultimately began from a single root, gaining enlightenment from their similarities.

They were both similar and different. Knowing which parts were different and which were the same, and the profundity born from these subtle differences, was what separated an unparalleled master from the rest.

I drew my sword and swung it, read the text, and then executed techniques like a madman. The experience was refreshing and intense.

If I had only learned demonic art, or if I had only learned the martial arts of the unorthodox sects, his teachings would not have resonated with me so deeply.

However, while I was based in demonic art, I had lived a life that transcended factions. Because of that, the Myriad Evil Sect Leader's final enlightenment had a great impact on me.

Then, at some point while executing the techniques of the Soaring Sky Sword Art, I realized something.

I had unknowingly achieved the Twelth Star complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

Like water flowing downward, the Myriad Evil Sect Leader's teachings had naturally guided me to the next level.

The tenth star complete mastery and the Twelth Star complete mastery were realms of a different dimension. A single martial art had reached its ultimate state and was finally perfected.

"Ah!"

I was overjoyed. Even in my past life, I had never achieved the Twelth Star complete mastery in any martial art. Now that I had reached the Twelth Star complete mastery of a profound martial art like the Soaring Sky Sword Art, I felt like I could fly.

I immediately prostrated myself and bowed. I offered sincere gratitude, even though he was a grandmaster of the unorthodox sects.

"Thank you so much for leaving behind such great teachings. A follower of the unorthodox path couldn't receive this precious fated connection, but the one who did is trying to help your descendant, so please don't be too disappointed."

As I was about to get up, something caught my eye.

Something was hidden in a spot only visible while prostrated. I moved closer and saw a letter left by the Myriad Evil Sect Leader. The last passage caught my eye.

"…I realized that even if I consumed this 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom, I could not kill the Heavenly Demon. Therefore, I will not take it and instead leave it for a future generation. May the fated one cherish this connection."

"The 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom?"

Startled, I examined the area. A small hole lay behind the letter. I looked inside and saw a 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom truly growing there.

When I lightly infused my inner arts and pushed, the earthen wall crumbled and revealed a small space.

Amazingly, a 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom grew there. It was a miracle herb more potent than any I had consumed before.

If I had not bowed gratefully to the Myriad Evil Sect Leader, I never would have found the letter or the 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom. I did not know if he intended it or if it was a coincidence, but I had stumbled upon a second miraculous encounter.

Thank you once again.

I carefully harvested the 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom. It was smaller than a normal lingzhi mushroom, containing countless years of accumulated spiritual energy.

I consumed the 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom on the spot.

An immense energy spread throughout my entire body. It was a massive amount of energy that could rupture the blood vessels of anyone unable to handle it.

However, my sturdy blood vessels, fortified by the Meridians Strengthening Art and the pure inner arts from previous miracle herbs, allowed me to absorb the 10000 Year Black Lingzhi Mushroom without any side effects.

I circulated the inner qi for one cycle, then two, then three, focusing intently on absorbing the energy. After storing the energy in my qi center, I opened my eyes.

I could not know how profound Father's, the Murim Alliance Chairman's, or the Evil Alliance Chairman's inner arts were, but I could now be confident that in terms of inner arts alone, mine was no less than theirs.

I left the letter and the teachings on the wall. The future earthquake would destroy most of it anyway, so I did not need to erase the Myriad Evil Sect Leader's work myself.

I crawled out of the space and put the stone slab back in its original place.

There was still time before the promised two hours were up, so I read the part about the final battle between the Heavenly Demon and the Myriad Evil Sect Leader.

The depiction of the fight showed the Heavenly Demon manifesting the Heavenly Demon Soul. Since unorthodox sect members drew the picture, they had depicted the Heavenly Demon Soul as a devil.

I stared intently at the Heavenly Demon Soul.

If one achieves complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, one can manifest the Heavenly Demon Soul.

Will I really be able to create a Heavenly Demon Soul someday? What form will my Heavenly Demon Soul take when it manifests? Could it appear in a small form, unlike that giant one?

Just thinking about it made my heart pound.

Just then.

SWOOSH. I had the illusion that the Heavenly Demon Soul in the picture was looking at me.

Startled, I looked again, but the Heavenly Demon Soul was just a picture.

Actually, this was the second time I had experienced this.

Once before, when Father pressured me with his demonic qi, I had felt as if something enormous was watching me from the abyss.

It was the exact same feeling now.

Am I seeing illusions because I desperately desire the Nine Calamities Demonic Art?

"Next time, let's meet not in a picture, but when I manifest you myself."

After saying that to the Heavenly Demon Soul, I left the Myriad Evil Cave.

Bi Sayin waited outside. He studied me with curious eyes, but at his level, he could not detect any change in me.

"I read it well. It's truly a place worthy of being called a sacred ground. The Myriad Evil Sect Leader was a great man."

"Don't even think of coming here again," Bi Sayin warned.

"It's a sacred place to you, but to me, it's just a stuffy underground cave. Seeing it once was enough. Now, let's go."

We went outside through the same pond we had entered.

Coming out from under the waterfall, we leaped up the cliff. I made it in a single bound, while he had to kick off the cliff face once midway up.

We started running toward the Evil Alliance Headquarters.

After running nonstop for a while, we took a short break. As we sat side-by-side on a hill, Bi Sayin said worriedly, "There must be a huge uproar by now. The heir of the Evil Alliance is missing with the son of the Heavenly Demon, after all."

"It might be less of a big deal than you think."

Bi Sayin looked at me and asked, "Why do you think so?"

"The Smiling Demon probably gave First Wolf a heads-up that I wouldn't be in any danger, so there's no need to make a fuss."

"Did you order the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon to do that?"

I shook my head.

"Aren't there things that can be understood without being said?"

"This is the first time I've been separated from the Thirteen Evil Wolves since becoming the heir, and I can't predict how they'll move at all."

He could not hide his bitter expression. I felt a little sorry for him, since I had induced their division.

"How does it feel to be alone?"

"I'm not sure yet. I thought it'd be very uncomfortable, but I don't feel that anxious."

"It's probably because you're with me. I have a charm that puts people at ease."

Bi Sayin looked dumbfounded at my shameless words. As I spent time with him, I learned to read the subtle changes in his expression. His mangled face first seemed to have only one expression, but a closer look revealed differences.

"I think I can read Young Master Bi's expressions now."

He flinched when I mentioned his expression. The scars on Bi Sayin's face were a taboo, just like the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask. However, I did not hesitate to bring it up.

"Later, when you have a trustworthy subordinate, show them your expressions clearly. It's the only way they'll be able to read your emotions. The closer they are and the more they respect you, the more likely they are to misread your expressions. Don't make that mistake."

"Why are you giving me this advice?"

"Because I want the Evil Alliance to run well. I want our Cult, your alliance, and the Murim Alliance to maintain a balance. If that balance collapses… you know what'll happen, don't you?"

"Is that really all?"

"Do you think I was taught to trust people? Still, I trust when I have to."

"I'm asking because I don't understand why you're taking such a risk."

"The reason is simple. That bastard tried to kill us. He tried to use the Smiling Demon. That's reason enough to kill him, but don't believe I'll help you to the very end. We're not some jianghu newcomers mad with vengeance. If we judge the situation isn't right, we'll pull out immediately. This whole affair is, in the end, your problem, Young Master Bi."

Bi Sayin looked like he had a lot on his mind.

"What should I do? To be honest, I'm a bit confused."

The Bi Sayin I first met and the Bi Sayin now were clearly different. A wounded pride tends to blind a person. However, the current Bi Sayin clearly had a stronger will to overcome reality than to protect his pride.

"Isn't it a simple matter?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it just a matter of paying them back in kind? He tried to kill you, so you kill him. He didn't try to kill the Evil Alliance Chairman for power. He tried to kill the heir, Young Master Bi. So you should kill his grandson the same way. Throw away any fear or reverence you have for Seok Gwanchu. He's just a vile old man greedy for power. Forget about evidence and all that crap and just kill him."

Bi Sayin nodded emphatically.

"You're right. This was a very simple problem."

It seemed something that had been blocked up was now clear.

"I will kill them all. I will kill anyone who stands in my way."

"Of course you should. Don't complicate a simple problem."

Bi Sayin stared at me for a moment, then asked, "Can you still read my expression?"

"I can."

"What is it?"

"You're happy."

"So I really did have expressions."

"You didn't know?"

"I didn't. Everyone was too busy avoiding my face."

"It wasn't everyone, it was you. Stop breaking mirrors now."

A deeper smile spread across the face that would have normally flared up in anger. I stared at his face for a moment before getting up first.

"Come on, let's run!"