Chapter 40

Chapter 40. Martial Duel (1)

“Hey, did you hear about that?”

“The rumor about the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable's disciple fighting a Black Blood Unit member? Everyone around here has heard it.”

“I still do not understand why people are making such a huge fuss. It cannot even be called a proper match, can it? A mere Demon Soldier against the disciple of a Demon Venerable.”

The Brush Slayer Demon Venerable hurried through the marketplace with an ugly expression while listening to the conversations around him.

“Apparently that Demon Soldier is not ordinary. I heard he contributed greatly to exposing Woo Family Manor's rebellion.”

“How much could a mere Demon Soldier contribute to something like that? You heard another strange rumor again, did you not?”

“I am telling you it is true! You know the Flower Moon Inn, the place with good twice-cooked pork? I personally saw the Sword Demon Clan Head drinking there with that Demon Soldier while they called each other brothers!”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. I do not know who that Demon Soldier is, but he is definitely not ordinary.”

“If that is true, this duel may actually be entertaining.”

The Brush Slayer Demon Venerable snorted like an angry bull and deliberately ignored the surrounding conversation.

Eventually, his steps stopped in front of the Sword Demon's residence.

“What is the meaning of this, Sword Demon?!”

“You came here without warning and immediately started shouting. What exactly are you talking about?”

“Do not pretend ignorance now. You are the one who spread all those rumors through the marketplace, are you not?!”

“Ah, that. I merely complained to a few acquaintances because I was frustrated about what happened inside the Brocade Demon Library. I never expected the rumor to spread this far.”

“Sword Demon!!”

The Brush Slayer Demon Venerable roared and released killing intent.

The Sword Demon quietly placed a hand on his sword.

“Withdraw your killing intent, Senior, unless you wish to fight this Junior to the death today.”

“You made a mockery of this Brush Slayer Demon Venerable's reputation. Did you truly believe I would simply let it go?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The very idea of a Demon Venerable's disciple fighting a Demon Soldier is ridiculous! Worse, the disciple of this Brush Slayer Demon Venerable against a Demon Soldier from the Black Blood Unit! That is precisely why an unwritten rule exists that matches like this should be held in secret!”

“The absolute law of our Cult is Respecting the Strong. Before strength, rank and existing custom can be overturned at any time! Have you forgotten the spirit of our Cult despite being a Demon Venerable?!”

The Sword Demon and Brush Slayer Demon Venerable's gazes collided in the air.

Sparks seemed ready to fly.

Both placed hands on their weapons.

Then, as though they had reached some silent agreement, both lowered them again.

“I do not know what you are planning, but I will not overlook this matter!”

“Instead of wasting time here, train your disciple harder. As Senior himself said, if the disciple of a Demon Venerable loses to a Demon Soldier, the humiliation will be unbearable!”

The Brush Slayer Demon Venerable snorted angrily for some time before leaving the Sword Demon's residence.

After he disappeared, Hyeonri carefully approached the Sword Demon.

“Will everything truly be all right? I know Sir Bi's martial arts are impressive, but if his opponent is the disciple of a Demon Venerable...”

“It will certainly not be easy.”

Bi Anso had landed a blow on Jong Yu before.

However, that happened because Jong Yu had been angry and underestimated him.

Disciples of Demon Venerables were all geniuses within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

If Jong Yu prepared properly and fought seriously, the duel would never be easy for Bi Anso.

And the entire plan to lure out the apostate becomes meaningless if little brother loses the duel.

Seven days have already passed, yet he has not shown his face once...

The Sword Demon thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Madam, I will visit the Black Blood Unit for a while.”

“You want to check Sir Bi's condition?”

“Simply winning the duel is not enough. If he fails to properly learn the Demon Suppression Brush Art, the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable may kill him.”

The Sword Demon immediately headed toward the Black Blood Unit.

It did not take long before he reached the barracks.

Black Blood Unit Leader Yang Gwa was already waiting outside as though he had expected him.

“Welcome, Sword Demon Clan Head.”

“My apologies for arriving without notice, Black Blood Unit Leader. But did you already know I was coming?”

“Before Bi Anso locked himself inside the training room, that bastard warned me you might visit around this time.”

The Sword Demon awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

Yang Gwa's face was filled with irritation toward Bi Anso, clearly because his subordinate kept creating troublesome situations.

“You came to see Bi Anso, correct?”

“Correct.”

“Follow me. Most of the unit members are away on missions right now, so at least there will not be too much noise.”

Yang Gwa led the Sword Demon underground.

Eventually, they stopped before a thick stone door.

It was Bi Anso's private training room.

“I apologize for saying this to such an important guest, but once your business is finished, please leave immediately, Clan Head. Because of that ridiculous duel, the Black Blood Unit is already receiving far too much unnecessary attention.”

Yang Gwa pointed toward the dark circles beneath his eyes.

The Sword Demon awkwardly avoided his gaze.

“I, I understand.”

“Thank you. I will take my leave. There are already more than enough unit members causing trouble besides Bi Anso. I am seriously considering resigning from this cursed position. How long do I need to clean up after a bunch of oversized children?”

Yang Gwa turned and walked away while grumbling.

Once he completely disappeared down the corridor, the Sword Demon carefully knocked on the training room door with the back of his hand.

“Little brother. It is me. May I come inside?”

One should never observe another martial artist's training without permission.

For that reason, the Sword Demon called for Bi Anso several times.

No answer came from inside.

Eventually, he had no choice but to carefully open the door and enter.

Is he meditating?

At the center of the training room, Bi Anso sat cross-legged in deep meditation.

His entire body was covered in sweat.

The Sword Demon quietly looked around to avoid disturbing him.

He uses a chain-sickle, does he? The marks are spread across an extremely wide area.

A true master could judge the level of another martial art simply by examining traces left behind on walls and floors.

The Sword Demon instinctively began studying the marks created by Bi Anso's chain-sickle.

He experimented with changing the path of his techniques in many different ways.

Was he truly serious when he said he would mix the Demon Suppression Brush Art into his own martial arts?

Combining the principles of one martial art with the techniques of another was never easy.

It first required a complete understanding of both martial systems.

Yet Bi Anso was attempting exactly that.

Worse, he intended to complete the process within fifteen days.

Even properly learning the Demon Suppression Brush Art alone would be almost impossible in such a short time.

Can he truly extract only its principles and merge them into his existing martial art?

From the Sword Demon's perspective, it was still a reckless challenge.

However, not even the slightest worry could be seen on Bi Anso's face as he meditated.

About two hours passed.

At last, Bi Anso opened his eyes.

“...Brother Won? When did you arrive?”

“Quite some time ago. I did not want to interrupt your meditation, so I simply waited.”

“Thank you. I was not exactly in a state of selflessness, but I was organizing the martial principles inside my head.”

“The Brush Slayer Demon Venerable came to see me today.”

“Pardon?”

The Sword Demon explained everything that had happened earlier.

“For the sake of his reputation, the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable will prepare his disciple thoroughly. Also, if you fail to properly make the Demon Suppression Brush Art your own, he may kill you.”

“We both already expected that, did we not?”

“I still do not understand why you insist on mixing the Demon Suppression Brush Art into your original martial arts within such a short time.”

“...I was already thinking it was time to properly test everything. You arrived at the perfect moment.”

“What?”

Bi Anso slowly stood, picked up his chain-sickle, and assumed a stance.

“Since you are already here, please give me some guidance through sparring.”

“Guidance... sparring?”

“The easiest way to determine whether my martial arts were properly modified for demonic energy is to test them against an outstanding martial artist.”

The Sword Demon laughed in amusement.

“Are you certain? Despite how I look, my hands are rather heavy during sparring.”

“Seeing is believing. No matter how much I explain with words, Brother Won's worries will not disappear.”

“That is true.”

The Sword Demon drew the sword resting at his waist and took a starting stance.

His aura immediately became as heavy as Mount Tai.

Even the surrounding air seemed crushed beneath it.

“I will give you five moves.”

“Come, little brother.”

“Then I will not hold back.”

Fwoosh!

Bi Anso's body left behind a pale afterimage as he charged toward the Sword Demon with lightning speed.

“The disciple of the Brush Slayer Demon Venerable and that man Bi Anso are going to hold a public duel?”

“Yes, Master. The rumor has already spread throughout the Cult.”

The apostate listened to Silent Arrow's report while trimming his bonsai tree.

After thinking for a moment, he placed the scissors on the table and smiled with obvious amusement.

“Bi Anso intends to draw me out.”

“Using a Demon Venerable to lure me. What a bold man.”

The apostate saw through Bi Anso's intentions perfectly.

Since Bi Anso could no longer hide properly, he had chosen to reveal himself openly and become bait.

“It almost feels like a challenge.”

“Pardon?”

“Does it not sound like he is saying this?”

“‘Here I am. This is the perfect opportunity to kill me using someone else's blade. Surely you cannot resist taking advantage of it.’”

“Please remain cautious, Master. The atmosphere inside the Cult is unstable after the destruction of Woo Family Manor. If we recklessly respond to the provocation of an insignificant assassin right now, we may expose ourselves.”

“That insignificant assassin defeated you and completely destroyed my plan to seize the Sword Demon Clan.”

Silent Arrow immediately raised his head at the anger inside his master's voice.

Words rose to his throat.

We must endure.

This is only provocation.

The timing is dangerous.

He desperately wanted to stop his master.

However, when he saw the savage madness filling his master's eyes, Silent Arrow could not bring himself to speak.

“A mere assassin did not simply steal the Sword Demon Clan from me.”

“Now he has openly exposed his belly and challenged me to stab him.”

“How could I possibly refuse such a challenge?”

“M, Master! But!”

“Hehehe.”

“I can no longer tell whether I want to possess that man or kill him.”

Crack, crack!

The apostate's violent energy surged outward with his madness and pressed heavily against the surrounding air.

His power was so fierce that spiderweb cracks spread across the pavilion where he sat.

“I would prefer to move personally, but if I do, I will not arrive in time.”

“I will need to use the Soul-Transfer Jiangshi I planted at the main headquarters.”

“T, the Soul-Transfer Jiangshi?!”

“Correct.”

“That way, I can remain here and still personally observe Bi Anso.”

“It is dangerous! The Soul-Transfer Jiangshi is a forbidden art known by very few people! If any clues remain, Master's identity may be exposed!”

“Even if my identity is exposed, it does not matter.”

“There is no one capable of doing anything to me.”

A cruel smile spread across the apostate's lips.

“Not the Left Envoy.”

“Not the Right Envoy.”

“Not even that great Cult Leader.”

“There is no one in the Heavenly Mountains who can do anything to me.”