Chapter 38. Brocade Demon Library (3)
Divine Steps of Demonic Light.
A footwork art focused on rapidly taking the enemy's blind spots.
It even described movement patterns for fighting against multiple opponents in detail.
If I combined it with the stealth-focused footwork of the Eight Currents of No Homeland, I might lose a little speed but gain far greater precision and versatility.
And beside it...
Star-Shattering Archery.
A bow capable of shattering stars.
That name was ridiculous.
Let us see.
This was a fascinating archery art.
Unlike the Bow of No Homeland, which had been created to kill a specific target with perfect accuracy, this art focused on overwhelming destructive power capable of sweeping away multiple enemies at once.
It seemed to consume an enormous amount of internal energy.
You could almost feel the ambition of someone genuinely trying to shatter stars with an arrow.
Its practicality in real combat seemed questionable, but learning it would not be a bad idea.
Even if I only understood the principles behind the martial art while studying its techniques, that alone would be a valuable harvest.
Next...
“How long are you planning to stare at those manuals? Can you even read?”
Ah.
This rude bastard.
“If you have nothing to do, go train somewhere. A brat who is barely dry behind the ears should stop standing beside me and making annoying remarks.”
“You bastard! How dare a Demon Soldier speak casually to me! I am the disciple of a Demon Venerable! Kneel and apologize immediately!”
“I am an uneducated Demon Soldier, so I do not care about any of that. If it bothers you, attack me.”
“What?!”
Jong Yu simply trembled with anger again without doing anything.
Did he never get tired of starting fights he could not finish?
“You are the one who refused to lend me copies, brat. So I have no choice except to memorize every one of these manuals before leaving.”
“Hah! Do you truly believe that is possible with that stupid head? A Demon Soldier who does not even understand his own place!”
“If waiting is boring, quietly give me the copies. Otherwise, stop distracting me and go away.”
Watching him snort like an angry bull was oddly satisfying.
He was basically a child.
He actually was young, but still.
When my own child was born, I definitely would not raise them like this.
“Demon Suppression Brush Art.”
“Maybe I should look at this one too.”
The moment I mentioned the name Demon Suppression Brush Art, Jong Yu's face twisted.
I suspected it.
That manual had definitely been written personally by the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable.
“You ignorant fool! You dare covet Master's martial arts? A mere Demon Soldier?!”
“I have never learned brush techniques before. I have always been curious about them.”
“Do not even think about touching it! I will definitely kill you!”
“Your Master stored his martial art on this bookshelf and personally recommended this shelf to me. That means he probably believes this Demon Suppression Brush Art suits me well.”
The moment I pulled out the Demon Suppression Brush Art, blood vessels burst in Jong Yu's eyes.
He was genuinely furious.
At this point, I was more surprised he had not attacked me.
“You bastard! If we were anywhere except the Brocade Demon Library, you would already be a corpse on the floor!”
“Ah, so you caused trouble inside the library before and were beaten so badly you nearly died? I understand. Children always make messes and get scolded. I once played around with hidden weapons when I was young and almost stabbed one into Master's bald head. I really thought I was going to die that day.”
“Shut up!!!”
I slowly opened the Demon Suppression Brush Art manual.
To irritate Jong Yu further, I deliberately exaggerated every movement.
“Then this worthless Demon Soldier will slowly learn the martial art you have not yet been allowed to study.”
“Ah, if you ever get stuck while learning the Demon Suppression Brush Art in the future, come find me. As your senior who learned it first, I can at least give you some advice.”
“It may be several years from now, though.”
Jong Yu's killing intent weighed heavily on the air.
Yet he did not move.
He only glared at me.
“...If even one manual disappears, I will find a way to peel your skin off while you are still alive.”
“You must be skilled at preparing raw fish. Impressive for someone living this deep in the mountains.”
Had he finally reached his limit?
He snorted loudly and disappeared somewhere.
Ah.
At last.
I could read without that irritating bastard breathing beside me.
Time to properly enjoy some reading.
Jong Yu was a genius.
At least, everyone around him called him one.
He came from an insignificant Demonic Family, yet became the disciple of the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable.
That fact was the greatest pride supporting his entire life.
However, ten years had passed since he became the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable's disciple and began helping manage the Brocade Demon Library.
Despite being closer to the library than anyone else, he had never once received permission to learn even a single manual within it.
Some of those manuals even contained brush arts created by his Master personally.
For the sake of future generations, his Master had freely donated his own martial arts to the Brocade Demon Library.
Yet his actual disciple had not received even a fragment of that inheritance.
Until now, Jong Yu had endured it.
Eventually, the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable's entire legacy would belong to him.
But now a random Demon Soldier had appeared and immediately received permission to enter the Brocade Demon Library.
Worse, that Demon Soldier was reading the Demon Suppression Brush Art, which his own Master created.
Jong Yu could never accept it.
How can Master do this to me?!
After spending nearly two hours striking an innocent table in frustration, Jong Yu frowned.
He could no longer feel any presence from where Bi Anso was sitting.
What is he doing? What can a mere Demon Soldier possibly understand from those manuals that requires this much time? Damn it. If I continue leaving that bastard alone, I may die from anger. Even if Master scolds me later, I should throw him out first.
Jong Yu marched toward Bi Anso.
Then an unbelievable sight entered his vision.
Could he possibly be...
Bi Anso stood completely still.
He did not blink even once, almost as though time itself had stopped around him.
He simply stared at the manual and slowly turned each page.
He was not even breathing.
He is breathing through his skin, almost like someone who reached the Realm of Returning to Simplicity.
And he is staring only at that manual!
Jong Yu approached and waved a hand up and down directly in front of Bi Anso's face.
His eyes did not blink.
His pupils did not move in the slightest.
Has he entered a state of selflessness?
From reading the Demon Suppression Brush Art?
A rage far stronger than before erupted inside Jong Yu.
Of all things, this bastard entered a state of selflessness while studying his Master's martial art?
A mere Demon Soldier?
