Chapter 69 - Petty Tactics Work

I entered the Northern Heaven Sword House. As always, Sa Ujong escorted me to the Single Flower Sword Supreme.

"Welcome, Pavilion Master."

"Have you been well, Warrior Sa?"

"I have, thanks to your concern."

He greeted me just as he always did. Despite having failed to push me out using the Soul-Seizing Demon, he showed none of his resentment.

Today, I intended to bait the hook with Cheong Seon and reel him in by exploiting his hidden ambition.

"Welcome!"

The Single Flower Sword Supreme greeted me warmly. It had been some time since I last saw her, and she seemed much more serene.

"You look even younger."

At my greeting, she led me to the flower bed.

"Come look at this."

A sprout had emerged where she pointed.

"It's the seed you gave me."

"Oh! It's already growing."

"Yes. Life is wondrous that way."

I felt Sa Ujong's qi sink further as he stood behind us. Ever since entering, I had been emitting qi to keep a discreet watch on him.

My mastery had improved beyond comparison with when Father first taught me this method. I was beginning to sense not only another person's presence and physical form, but even their emotions.

I secretly sent the Sword Supreme a sound transmission.

—Would you ask Sa Ujong to bring us wine and some food? I need to let him overhear a few things. I'll explain why afterward.

—Very well.

The Single Flower Sword Supreme told Sa Ujong to bring wine. He answered respectfully and turned away, but his emotions grew still more vicious.

She, who never drank, was drinking now. And I was the only person she spoke to so familiarly.

Judging by the change in his emotions, he apparently thought I had stolen the Single Flower Sword Supreme from him.

I suspected his relationship with Cheong Seon was far from normal, too. His eventual fate said it all.

A little later, when Sa Ujong brought the wine and food, I let a piece of information slip. I addressed the Single Flower Sword Supreme, but the words were really meant for his ears.

"At present, the leading candidates to become the next Soul-Seizing Demon are the first disciple, Yang Do, and the third disciple, Cheong Seon."

I sensed Sa Ujong flinch at the mention of Cheong Seon.

"From what I've heard, Yang Do has the better chance."

"That's true. But Cheong Seon isn't without options."

"What options does she have?"

The Single Flower Sword Supreme kept the conversation going. She must have wondered why I was discussing this in Sa Ujong's presence, but she betrayed nothing and behaved perfectly naturally.

"The Wind Heaven Cult Leader happens to be visiting the Cult, doesn't he? His martial arts and the Soul-Seizing Demon's share the same roots. If Cheong Seon can learn martial arts from him, she'll have a chance as well."

"Would the Wind Heaven Cult Leader really accept her?"

"He will. As everyone knows, the Wind Heaven Cult has long wanted to enter the Central Plains by any means possible. Taking Cheong Seon as his disciple under these circumstances would give him a pretext to stay. If anything, Cheong Seon will be the one reluctant to agree."

"Why is that?"

"It seems the Soul-Seizing Demon made sure to educate his disciples thoroughly. He could hardly have spoken well of his sworn enemy, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader."

"I suppose not."

"Ultimately, if things continue as they are, Yang Do will become the Soul-Seizing Demon. Unfortunately, Cheong Seon will lose her chance to become a Demon Supreme."

That was everything Sa Ujong heard before he finished setting down the wine and food and left. I spoke quickly, while he placed everything on the table slowly. He walked away at a leisurely pace, hearing as much as he could before leaving.

That was enough. He had heard all the essential points.

I was certain Sa Ujong would persuade Cheong Seon to become the Wind Heaven Cult Leader's disciple. An ambitious man like him would never let his lover miss a chance to become the Soul-Seizing Demon.

Only after confirming that he was well and truly gone did the Single Flower Sword Supreme ask,

"Why did you ask me to do that?"

"Sa Ujong and Cheong Seon are lovers. Did you know?"

"Sa Ujong? No, I didn't."

"I'm not sure whether you're aware, Senior, but our pavilion's investigation indicates that Sa Ujong is a very ambitious man. He's capable of trying to manipulate you from behind the scenes."

I warned her, but stopped short of telling her that Sa Ujong had romantic feelings for her.

"I have some idea of that myself."

"I was keeping an eye on him in case he posed a threat to you, Senior, when I discovered their relationship. An opportunity arose to make use of it, which is why I asked for your help."

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

"I'm the one who should thank you. Please remain wary of him, but for the time being, I'd appreciate it if you handled anything involving Sa Ujong as you normally would."

"I will."

I intended to repay her help with what she wanted most.

"Let's have a sparring match soon."

"I'll look forward to it."

To be honest, I was the one looking forward to it. I wanted to see how much the New Eye Procedure would help in actual combat.

But first, I had to take care of this business.

As I left, I glanced back. She was standing in the courtyard with her hands clasped behind her back, gazing up at the sky.

Her thatched cottage no longer struck me as hypocritical.

* * *

Today, Sa Ujong was putting his all into their lovemaking.

As a result, Cheong Seon experienced pleasure she did not normally feel.

Drenched in sweat, they lay side by side on the bed.

"Did something happen today?"

"No. Why?"

"You weren't your usual self."

"And?"

"It felt so good."

Sa Ujong certainly was different today. He took the initiative to embrace her and asked,

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

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

"What do you think?"

"Who wouldn't want to be a Demon Supreme? I just don't think I can beat my senior disciple brother."

"You must become a Demon Supreme."

"Why?"

"If your senior brother becomes one, he won't let you live."

"He's... not that sort of person."

"You hesitated just now, didn't you? Do you know why? Because you know he is that sort of person."

"..."

"The moment your name came up as a candidate for the next Demon Supreme, you stepped onto a dueling platform you can only leave after a bloody fight to the death."

Sa Ujong sincerely wanted Cheong Seon to become a Demon Supreme.

If she did, he could manipulate the tremendous power of the Soul-Seizing Demon from behind the scenes. The very thought set his heart racing.

And at the end of this lust for power, his twisted desire remained. He would grow stronger, and stronger still.

'One day, I'll make the Sword Supreme mine.'

Cheong Seon quietly studied Sa Ujong's eyes as he gazed absently at the portrait of the Single Flower Sword Supreme on the wall.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

"How to make you a Demon Supreme."

"There's no way at the moment."

"There is. One way."

"What way?"

"The Wind Heaven Cult Leader is here right now. If you learn martial arts from him, you can beat your senior brother."

"That's ridiculous! You know perfectly well that martial skills don't improve that quickly."

"You were born with extraordinary talent, weren't you? And this isn't just anyone we're talking about. It's the Wind Heaven Cult Leader. Learn even one secret technique from him, and you'll be able to beat the likes of your senior brother."

"If I become his disciple, won't the other Demon Supremes dislike me?"

"This is a matter of life and death. Survive first, and worry about that later."

Sa Ujong pressed himself into her.

He did not stop until she agreed.

* * *

"Petty bastards! I never imagined they could be this petty."

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader could not contain his anger.

"Doesn't this bother you at all?"

The shackled man simply stared at the Thunderous Sound Bell in silence.

"Say something."

"Didn't you expect this? That they'd do whatever they could to send us back?"

"I did. Yes, I did. But I didn't expect such dirty tricks. Does this make any sense? Tampering with our food?"

According to a report that had just arrived, the meals served to his subordinates waiting in the outer compound had changed. The portions were smaller and the quality worse. Good meat had been replaced with lumps of fat, and the wine with cheap swill.

"Who would believe it? That the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon would stoop to playing games with food. They might as well poison it!"

Worse, those eating it were none other than the Wind Heaven Cult's main fighting force: the Ten Great Demonic Masters and one hundred soldiers of the Blood Nara Army. Even if only out of shame before them, he could not sit idly by.

"Petty tactics work best. And to be precise, this is the Demonic Buddha's doing, not the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon's. Their cult leader might drive us out by force, but he isn't the sort to do this."

"That little bastard wasn't this bad before."

"Circumstances have pushed him to it. Persuading you is his responsibility. He has to send you home somehow if he's to save face before the other Demon Supremes."

"This isn't something I can let slide."

His own standing was directly at stake as well. He could not let his subordinates see the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon treating him so poorly.

"I'll go confront their cult leader."

"And what will you say when you get there? Will you demand food?"

"I will. Of course I will. I'll shout that his damned subordinate stole all my men's food. I'll roll around on the floor of Heavenly Demon Hall and tattle that I've never seen anything so petty in my life."

"Have a pleasant visit, then."

Of course, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader could not do that. He redirected his anger elsewhere.

"What the hell is that braggart, the Second Young Master, doing? Didn't he say he'd find a solution?"

"Be patient and wait."

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

"Those who respect you will respect you even if they go hungry. Those who dislike you will still dislike you if you feed them lavish feasts three times a day. There's no need to worry about it."

"The world doesn't work as neatly as you think. Those who respect me will feel hurt and say, 'I respect him so much, and he still lets me starve?' Those who dislike me will say, 'I knew this pathetic fool would end up like this,' and sow discord among the others."

"Then keep only those who weather all those storms in your service."

"Damn it! Fuck!"

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

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked at the shackled man in surprise.

The shackled man smiled faintly, as though this were only to be expected.

Cheong Seon soon entered and bowed respectfully.

"I pay my respects to the revered supreme ruler of the frontiers. I am Cheong Seon of the Western Illusion Formation."

"I've heard much about you. The finest ghost sorcerer in the Western Illusion Formation, they say?"

"You flatter me. I apologize for not coming to pay my respects sooner."

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

"My late master once told me that the martial arts I learned have their roots in the Blood Cult."

"Indeed. In that sense, we might call ourselves fellow disciples. Tell me, did the Demon Supreme pass on all his martial arts to you?"

"Unfortunately, he did not. That is why I have come to ask you this. Please accept me as your disciple!"

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked at the shackled man and sent a sound transmission.

—The Second Young Master is insane.

—This is why. This is why we must stick with the Second Young Master to the very end.

—Damn it! Just thinking about him coming to collect my sacred relic already has my stomach churning. I feel like I'll get indigestion.

—Let's take this opportunity to become a little less small-minded.

—Shut up!

Though this exchange took place in private, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader's expression remained supremely solemn.

"It is my earnest wish to see the demonic arts of the frontiers shine in the Central Plains. But I don't know whether your cult leader will permit this precious bond between us."

"To my knowledge, the Cult places no restrictions on forming master-disciple relationships. Besides, this will ultimately strengthen the Western Illusion Formation, so I doubt the cult leader will object."

"And are you prepared for it? Your senior brother will take issue with this."

"Teach me how to defeat him."

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader spoke softly to her.

"Your senior brother may kill you."

Cheong Seon raised her head and looked at him.

Her eyes now were not those of a passive woman swayed by a man. The innocent woman who had shared Sa Ujong's bed and the woman standing here were clearly two different people.

Sa Ujong did not know.

He did not know that her obedience in bed was only a tiny part of who she was.

He did not know that his sense of being loved by her came not from affection, but from her vicious self-love, which would never surrender anything she considered hers. He did not know she was a ruthless woman who would destroy whatever she could not possess. Sa Ujong knew nothing.

Cheong Seon smiled brightly and said,

"But I can't very well let myself die, can I?"

Reading in her eyes the raw madness that only a wicked woman could display, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader smiled in satisfaction.

"I look forward to seeing the next Soul-Seizing Demon."