The Double Agent of the Heavenly Demon Sect - Chapter 3

Mc’s name is changed to Jeokwoon. Along with it, I changed some of the terms/names as well to stay accurate to the author’s original intent. Please check them out!

금강무괴철(金剛無壞鐵) – Indestructible Heavenly Iron

비상검 연천 – Flying Sword Yeon Cheon

구두룡검 팔악사 – Nine-Headed Dragon Flash Pa Raksa

쌍두사(雙頭蛇) – Twin-Headed Snake

팔마(八魔) – Eight Demons

칠마(七魔) – Seventh Demons

천마 천소소(天小笑) – Heavenly Demon Cheon Soso

비천읍(泌川邑) – Bicheon Town

흑운(黑雲) – Black Cloud

적운(赤雲) – Red Cloud/Jeokwoon (Main Character)

삼재검법 – Three Cuts Sword Technique

천산 – Tian Shan 2

일마(Ilma) – First Demon

화영문 – Hwayeong Sect

천겁의 고통 – Endless Tribulations

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————

What a tedious life.

Heavenly Demon Cheon Soso tilted her cup. Watching the shimmering green liquid felt overwhelmingly dull.

The life of an absolute ruler. Of course, it also had its own ups and downs. There had been a significant change recently, after all. But it wasn’t a welcome one.

On the contrary, it was quite displeasing. Truly, any change that appeals to one’s heart must be of that sort.

Something that stirs one’s interest.

Something that ignites curiosity about what comes next.

The Heavenly Demon put down her untouched cup and leaned back in her chair, yawning leisurely. She spoke as if idly taking something off the shelf that had long been forgotten.

“First Demon.”

“Yes.”

“How’s my dog doing?”

A figure cloaked in black appeared. His body, as always, was filled with dignity and formality.

The Heavenly Demon found that slightly annoying. They had been together for years and even shared martial arts knowledge; a relationship that was quite close. Even if she couldn’t trust others, the First Demon was different. Though they weren’t bound by blood, it felt deeper than that.

How regretful. Truly regretful.

The Heavenly Demon picked up a sweet and chewed thoughtfully.

“Give me the report.”

“As per your command, I am currently teaching him the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.”

“The mnemonic?”

“He remembers it to some extent but is rather dull. As expected, he’s not particularly bright.”

Well, his physique, as well as his level of mastery, were mediocre.

What she valued was the obsession hidden within his honesty, the tenacity born from enduring for so long.

Simply, karma.

“How is he with a sword?”

“I haven’t let him hold one yet. He’s not at that level.”

“How about his sense of bodily control?”

“Not particularly outstanding.”

“What about unconventional tactics?”

“His improvisation is passable, but he’s not exceptionally talented.”

“Would you say he’s a dunce?”

“To call him ‘talented’ at all would be overly generous.”

The First Demon’s assessment was remarkably low. The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

Ah! She was someone who did everything with perfection. Even the tasks she disliked. She wouldn’t taint her report with any personal bias.

‘So that dog, Jeokwoon, is even worse than a dunce. He’s just a fool!’

But perhaps that’s what made it so amusing. The Heavenly Demon chuckled, reclined and looked up at the black-clad figure.

She couldn’t see his face behind the hood and the charm-like slips of paper clinging to his head, but somehow, she sensed it.

“First Demon. Don’t you prefer those with talent?”

“I prefer those with it over those without.”

“Right. That’s you—someone who values efficiency. How many disciples have you trained?”

“There’s the Blood Demon Squad. I also trained the Four Sacred Gods.”

“Yes. You’ve had over a hundred disciples.”

“I only properly trained the Four Sacred Gods… But yes, that’s correct.”

“I’ve often spied on you when you were teaching your disciples. How could I just leave my adorable First Demon to work alone?”

“… I am humbled.”

“But you know, my dear First Demon…”

The Heavenly Demon raised her hands, pulling her lips into a smile with her fingers.

“I’ve never seen you smile like this before.”

“…”

The First Demon stiffened slightly and then coughed.

“You must have made a mistake, Cult Master.”

“Well. Even if you’re not smiling, your aura seems to be. Could it be that you’ve developed a… soft spot?”

“… Please, retract your words.”

His tone conveyed genuine discomfort.

The Heavenly Demon shrugged.

“Well, maybe. Your standards are high, after all. But, you know, training in the Endless Tribulation changes one’s appearance too. Wasn’t that the case for you? With every day, you look a bit prettier.”

“…”

“Oh, yes. Enough. You were always lovely. Satisfied? Geez. Tsk. You have no charm. No charm at all. Couldn’t you at least pretend to be a little embarrassed? I recall that the fellow’s face wasn’t entirely unpleasant to look at.”

“…”

“Look at that—you’re refusing to answer again! Even when I tell you to fix that habit!”

“I apologize for my delayed response.”

“Just say you’d rather draw your sword late in a fight. My death would come first before you, Nanseol, would be late.”

It appeared that the First Demon had no interest in him as a member of the opposite sex.

The Heavenly Demon lightly tapped the table. So, there was something she found appealing about him as a warrior, after all.

What could it be? She could ask and know in an instant, but where would the fun be in that? Speculation is enjoyable for the process alone. Yes, indeed. The Heavenly Demon smiled.

“Is that boy more diligent than expected?”

“…Yes.”

“And he doesn’t complain much either?”

“That is also true.”

“You already have two things you like about him. Then, what could the third one be? I’m truly curious… But I won’t ask. There’s nothing more boring than ruining the suspense right when I’m about to find out the truth.”

The Heavenly Demon thought, raising a last conjecture with her curled lips.

“Does my little doggie have more patience than expected?”

“…”

The First Demon remained silent, and the Heavenly Demon chuckled, sensing she had guessed right.

“See? Didn’t I tell you it would be entertaining if I brought him along?”

“Cult Master, forgive me if this is out of line, but may I say something?”

“Go ahead. I should always hear you out. What do you want to say?”

“Didn’t you say that the dog you picked up has a lot of patience?”

“Indeed, that’s what I said. I just mentioned it a moment ago. I may be getting older, but I haven’t developed memory loss just yet.”

“The dog, Jeokwoon, does have a high tolerance. No matter how much he’s pushed, he doesn’t complain. Even when his hands bleed, he doesn’t utter a single cry.”

“Keh-heh. Well, for someone with nothing to his name, that’s the least he can do if he wants to at least catch a glimpse of those running ahead of him.”

“That’s true, Cult Master. However…”

The First Demon tilted her head slightly.

“That dog is not a hardheaded fool, Cult Master.”

“Hmm? And what does that mean?”

“He’s not just tough—he’s a venomous snake.”

Look at that.

What an unusual thing to say.

The Heavenly Demon leaned forward slightly.

“A venomous snake, not a hardheaded fool. What’s the difference?”

“A fool is one who willfully persists to the end. But a venomous snake… is different.”

“And?”

“A venomous snake will drive its fangs into its own flesh if that’s what it takes to get the job done.”

“…?”

Surely not.

“First Demon.”

“Yes.”

“The Endless Tribulation brings unspeakable pain during the adaptation phase. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

“I have experienced it myself.”

“And within our cult, only you and I possess a complete version of the Endless Tribulation. Everyone else succumbed to the pain and ended their own lives.”

“That is true as well.”

“When pain gets unbearable, I told you to give him the medicine. That medicine forces adaptation to the Endless Tribulation, allowing even those not suited for it to hold a partial version of it.”

“Yes.”

“Did you… not give him the medicine?”

“I did not.”

*Crack.*

The Heavenly Demon broke the armrest she was leaning on.

“Why?”

“I judged he was not worth that much.”

“…Go on.”

“The medicine’s value is beyond description. Dozens of rare ingredients are combined to make it, each incredibly expensive. A portion of our cult’s wealth is required to make a single dose.”

“Continue.”

“I felt that Jeokwoon was not worth that price.”

“How odd.”

The Heavenly Demon ran her hand over the broken armrest.

“Since when was it the First Demon’s role, rather than the head of the cult, to make that decision?”

“It was my unilateral choice.”

“Even with the medicine, the pain is unbearable. Without it, the pain is twice as severe—a level of suffering that even a prodigy could not endure. First Demon.”

“That is true.”

“Death would be expected. I told you to raise my dog, not kill him.”

“I apologize…”

Snap.

The remnants of the armrest were embedded in the wall, and a part of the mask was torn, hanging in tatters.

Blood trickled down the First Demon’s cheek as the Heavenly Demon casually spoke.

“It’s strange. If Jeokwoon is still alive, it would mean that you eventually used the medicine, wouldn’t it? It means you ultimately followed my order, doesn’t it?”

“… I didn’t use the medicine.”

“So you’re saying he’s walking around fine and swinging his arms without it? First Demon, jokes have lost their charm now. It must be like thorns sprouting from his veins, consuming his entire body in agony. If he takes one step, I’d applaud him. Two steps? I’d be genuinely impressed. Three steps? I’d call him a real tough one—a sheer beast with remarkable endurance.”

It’s that level of pain.

That kind of torment.

The Heavenly Demon looked at the First Demon, stood up, and forcibly removed her mask. Pink hair cascaded down, and the Heavenly Demon gazed intently into eyes the same color as her hair.

There was no chaos. No fear. Only sincerity. They weren’t the eyes of someone lying, but it was still hard to believe so easily.

An ordinary person wielding the Endless Tribulation…

Training in martial arts while enduring that level of pain?

“Are you telling me he’s become like a corpse under your control?”

“Cult Master.”

She opened her mouth.

“He is not just persistent; he is a serpent. And without any medicine at all, he is tirelessly training in martial arts every day.”

“… Every day?”

First Demon, Nanseol, sighed.

“He is an ordinary man, yet not ordinary. His spirit and essence are formidable, incomparable to any genius. I spoke with him briefly and learned about him. He is twenty-four. Jeokwoon was born into poverty and worked from a young age to support his family alone.”

“…”

“For twenty-four years, he never once took a break. He may not be a genius, but he was diligent, and though he was foolish, he was steadfast.”

“A high assessment, First Demon.”

“It is merely an objective observation, Cult Master. Patience. That’s the word that defines his life. It is also his guiding path and represents the road he will likely walk all his life.”

The First Demon’s expression softened slightly.

“He is an ordinary man. He has no talent for martial arts, nor is he particularly intelligent. Is he gifted with words? No. He is simply a common man you might see anywhere.”

“… Interesting.”

“But…If he has anything worth mentioning…”

The First Demon lowered her gaze.

“He holds the sword of patience. And with the encounter with Endless Tribulation, that patience has twisted. He hasn’t entered a state of demonic possession, but his suppressed true nature, concealed by his circumstances, has surfaced. Now, he possesses the fangs of a serpent. Even if his body is covered in blood, he could become a dog willing to sink his fangs into an opponent’s neck.”

“… Hmm.”

Had she ever given such a detailed evaluation before?

The Heavenly Demon thought for a moment, then turned and returned to her seat.

After some contemplation, she reached a conclusion.

“It seems my eye for talent truly is exceptional!”

She ignored the First Demon’s cold, dry gaze.

“I’d like to go and watch him myself, but it would ruin the fun if I showed up now. I’ll observe him from afar later. But if the First Demon’s assessment is that high, I may have to bring him out sooner than I planned.”

“… What do you mean by that?”

“Have you found someone who resembles him?”

“I’ve placed someone in the gatekeeper position.”

“Well done, First Demon. That means we can still make use of his identity as a spy… Let’s see…”

‘Ah.’

‘There’s a place that hasn’t been filled yet.’

“There are still quite a few vacancies in the Blood Demon Squad, aren’t there?”

“… Pardon? Cult Master, that’s not a place for someone who has just learned martial arts.”

“If he does enter, he’ll achieve higher accomplishments at a faster pace. It’s the best place to fully master the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique.”

“Leaving enemies aside, he’ll certainly be abandoned by his own allies first. The Blood Demon Squad doesn’t have upright dispositions. They’re no different from demons who have walked countless battlefields. If a comrade becomes a hindrance, they’ll undoubtedly cut him down.”

“What use is it if someone destined to become my dog struggles with mere demons?”

The Heavenly Demon snapped her fingers.

“The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique practiced by the Blood Demon Squad is a martial art I created. It should suit Jeokwoon well enough. Seeing his comrades’ high achievements, he’ll undoubtedly train even harder.”

“… Are you willing to let a dog, bearing even the Endless Tribulation, die at the hands of allies instead of enemies?”

“Didn’t you call him patient? If patience is the sword my dog holds, then he’ll survive within the Blood Demon Squad as well.”

The Heavenly Demon raised her tea. The sharp taste on her tongue was now quite enjoyable.

A delicacy, indeed. It’s the story that accompanies the tea that brings out the real flavor.

“Raising him slowly is good, but what would come of that? A child raised within one’s skirts would never learn to use their claws.”

“…”

“Or have you grown attached to the point you’re reluctant to throw him into danger, First Demon?”

First Demon sighed and wiped the blood trickling down her cheek.

“My sword does not harbor ‘affection’ for anyone.”

“Then throw him in. He is, after all, my dog. Choosing how to handle him is my choice as well.”

The Heavenly Demon drained her teacup with satisfaction.

“A dog must be raised like a dog; if you pamper and coddle it, it will never grow.”