Chapter 189: Demonic Sword Flower (1)
Southern Mist Sword Flower, Baek Sang-ah.
Once recognized for her talent and named as one of the Four Pillars of the Central Plains, she had gained another identity through the Qinghai incident—one of the Three Flowers of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Of course, it wasn’t something she had wanted at all.
Now, with Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s gaze filled with boundless affection directed at her…
“Ah, no. Th-that’s… ah…”
…her mind seemed completely scrambled, as if she was no longer in her right senses.
I quickly snapped back to awareness and urgently grabbed Baek Sang-ah’s shoulders, pulling her toward me.
“Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend. How do you know this?”
“…And you are?”
“I’m this lady’s bodyguard.”
“Aha! I see.”
The sharp gleam in Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s eyes immediately softened.
“That means, you’re also someone of the Cult…”
“That’s right.”
“My apologies, then.”
Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend bowed his head politely.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. How did you find out the lady’s true identity?”
If he had merely mentioned the name Southern Mist Sword Flower, that would be understandable, but bringing up ‘Demonic Sword Flower’ was completely unexpected.
As if he understood what I meant, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend nodded.
“It’s simple. I was also in the underground ruins of Eastern Sea Fortress at that time.”
“…What?”
“When Lady Demonic Sword Flower killed my lord, Colorful Flower Lord, I was observing the situation from a distance.”
This bastard had been there?
‘It’s not impossible. If he completely avoided the fight…’
Then why hadn’t he recognized Cheon Yura, the true Demonic Heavenly Flower, and instead identified Baek Sang-ah…?
‘Ah.’
Only then did I realize that Cheon Yura had disguised herself and was wearing a mask.
Unlike Baek Sang-ah, who walked around with her face fully exposed.
Her silly disguise as Wolmyeon Geomhwa turned out to be unexpectedly useful in this situation.
‘Unbelievable.’
To think cause and effect would come around in such a ridiculous way!
“So then, what business do you have with our lady?”
“…‘Our’?”
I heard Cheon Yura’s displeased voice from behind, but for the sake of the greater good, I prayed for her patience and ignored it.
Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend glanced around nervously and spoke cautiously.
“Lady Demonic Sword Flower must be of noble blood within the Heavenly Demon Cult, right? Perhaps… um… from the Six Great Demonic Clans…”
I lowered my voice deliberately.
“The Six Great Demonic Clans? Do you really think someone of her stature is from something as minor as that?”
“Th-then?”
“She is from the great bloodline that governs the Heavenly Demon Cult. A noble daughter of the Grand Cheon Clan.”
“Ooooh!”
Baek Sang-ah, who had finally regained her senses, widened her eyes as if asking what nonsense I was spouting, but I ignored her just as thoroughly.
“Th-the Grand Cheon Clan! C-could you show me some proof of that?”
“…Your attitude is already pushing the limit, but I’ll grant you one chance. Any rudeness beyond this will not be forgiven.”
“Of course!”
I discreetly told Baek Sang-ah to draw out her pure sword qi without using her Moonlight Sword Qi.
—Just do as I say for now.
—If this goes wrong, it’s all your fault!
Grinding her teeth and glaring at me, Baek Sang-ah finally let out a sigh and drew one of her twin swords.
And then—
Pachik!
A stream of pure black sword qi smoothly emanated from her blade.
“O-ohh! To emit such pure demonic qi! Truly worthy of the Cheon Clan’s bloodline!”
Only one who had reached peak Master Level could draw out qi like that without any preparatory motion—there was no doubt about her skill.
No other clan could have produced such a being!
“That should be enough now.”
“Of course!”
With an expression full of deep emotion, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend placed one hand over his chest.
“The reason I have come is to pledge myself to the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“…To the Cult?”
“Yes. And in return, I wish to offer something of great benefit to the Cult.”
That the culprit behind the Luoyang incident now wanted to join the Cult came as a surprise, but—
“Even though the Demonic Heavenly Flower of the Cult killed your master, Colorful Flower Lord?”
“What does that matter to someone like me, an Evil Outsider? What matters is my own survival.”
“….”
He was so brazen that I couldn’t even retort.
“That’s not all. Most of the demonic factions gathered in Luoyang right now are following my lead. If you wish, I can turn this entire Luoyang City into a sea of fire!”
“…!”
In that moment, I understood what this bastard had been aiming for from the start.
“The demonic factions were bait.”
“Exactly. Young Master, you are truly wise.”
Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend then explained in detail what he had been thinking when he brought the demonic factions here—and what kinds of delusions they had gathered under.
“…Hmph.”
The Third Demonic Alliance, huh.
I was surprised at how plausible Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s plan actually was.
‘If he had a focal point—a powerhouse of the Peak Stage—and if our Cult had actually launched an invasion of Shaanxi… it really would’ve been a worthwhile gamble.’
Although he was acting submissive because of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s influence now—
In reality, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend was a formidable old monster who could never be taken lightly.
And then, a decent idea popped into my head.
“Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend. Are you prepared to do anything for the Cult?”
“If you’ll accept me, I will serve like a loyal dog.”
“Good. Then I’ll tell you what you’re to do from now on.”
I gave Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend a rough outline of the direction he was to take.
“Understood. I await your command.”
“Gwan Hyun of the Mount Wudang Sect will surely walk into any trap to eliminate you.”
“Do not worry. I will absolutely carry out your orders.”
Then, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend gave me that classic seductive glance unique to him.
“I, uh, have a humble wish, if I may…”
“What is it?”
“Could you allow me… to serve this lady by her side?”
“……”
Like something straight out of a classic folktale, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend bowed his head before Baek Sang-ah.
…Creeeep!
‘This bastard, no way…’
***
It was commonly said that seasoned perverts rarely worked well with others.
Well, in a way, it made sense.
Only the weak hunted in packs—those with strong martial arts had no need to share prey.
Yet Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend had once worked under Colorful Flower Lord.
Which meant…
“Their preferences don’t overlap, then.”
“I don’t want to know crap like that!”
Baek Sang-ah screamed sharply.
Judging from how Colorful Flower Lord had treated Dokbong and Cheon Yura, it was clear that his type was sharp-featured beauties.
Admittedly, that showed he had some sense of taste.
“But this Lust Fiend bastard is clearly the type who’s into young ladies. A full-on degenerate.”
“…That’s kind of an infuriating thing to say, but why did you—of all people—Jin Clan’s Young Master, let a guy like that hang around me in the first place?”
Grinding my teeth, I tried to calm Baek Sang-ah, who was glaring at me with fiery eyes.
“Don’t worry. I was just lying.”
“…Lying?”
I had told Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend that if he carried out this mission successfully, he could serve by Baek Sang-ah’s side.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of keeping that promise.
“For the sake of your future, he’s someone who must never be left alive.”
If that guy ever learned that Baek Sang-ah was actually Nam Yeon Geomhwa, not Demonic Sword Flower, no one could predict how things might spiral out of control.
“C-can you just lie like that so blatantly? You’re the noble Young Master of the Jin Clan!”
“I don’t care what happens to anyone except the people at my side.”
My words were so cold that Baek Sang-ah was left speechless.
That was when Cheon Yura spoke up.
“He definitely isn’t someone we should keep around for long. Use him, then discard him.”
“Hm…”
“What matters now is the schedule. We have to reach the Orthodox Alliance within fifteen days at the latest… Will that be a problem?”
It was true that our original goal had been to hunt down Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend.
But since the guy had voluntarily revealed himself and bowed down…
“You could say things have taken a fortunate turn. It’s fine. We can’t miss this chance to deal a heavy blow to the Wudang Sect.”
“That’s true.”
Cheon Yura agreed without hesitation.
After all, Wudang had been one of our Cult’s main rivals for hundreds of years.
“Ugh! The Wudang Sect… They’re part of the orthodox faction, but still… They’re Grandpa’s enemies! No, still… That doesn’t justify…”
With her head buried in her hands, Baek Sang-ah groaned in torment.
“You seem conflicted.”
“Think positively, Lady.”
I handed her the confidential ledger that Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend had offered me the night before.
“The Wudang Sect is our enemy.”
“……”
“Gwan Hyun—the name of that man appears in this book. Apparently, five years ago, he even commissioned Colorful Flower Lord for an assassination. Targeting someone from Nancheon.”
Colorful Flower Lord’s black ledger.
Even stumbling across a top-grade elixir on the street wouldn’t compare—this was a truly unexpected stroke of luck.
‘This is insane.’
I kept flipping through the pages in awe.
Within the Flower Lord’s ledger were names of highly respected figures from the orthodox sects—completely unexpected ones.
‘There’s definitely another member of the Ten Heavenly Lords in this list. Even if not, it’s a weapon of immense value for the future.’
If I had gotten this kind of opportunity in a story, people would have complained it lacked realism.
‘One thing’s clear: despite being grouped under the name Ten Heavenly Lord, their connections aren’t all that tight. Well, just look at my master for proof…’
If they were bound by trust, this kind of book wouldn’t even exist.
Right then, Baek Sang-ah—who had been agonizing over it—suddenly stood up.
“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll act to keep Wudang in check.”
“A wise decision.”
“But only Gwan Hyun. I don’t believe all the Taoists from the Wudang Sect who came here are in league with him.”
“Of course.”
Well, whether the Wudang people lived or died didn’t matter to me or Cheon Yura… but I should show her some consideration.
“But if they go on a rampage inside the city, the civilian casualties will be enormous. Will that be okay?”
“Ah, I’ve already thought of a way to handle that.”
I smiled deviously without realizing it.
“This new Demonic Alliance being formed in Luoyang will be a pro-Heavenly Demon Cult faction.”
“…Huh? Demonic Alliance? Pro-Cult?”
“Surprisingly, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s idea wasn’t bad. And unless the alliance feels like a formal organization, the demonic sects won’t restrain themselves from harming civilians.”
Cheon Yura, after a brief moment of thought, gave her response.
“I see. Since they’ll soon have to make this place their own base, it makes sense not to destroy it.”
“No one wants their own turf to turn into a wasteland.”
You could see the logic in what had happened in Seonyeong Fortress, the base of Qinghai.
Under the rule of the Ten Thousand Evil King, Seonyeong had developed strict law and order—surpassing most major cities of the Central Plains.
“This is something Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend will enforce strictly. If anyone harms civilians and gets in the way of the alliance’s foundation, he’ll personally execute them.”
“It’s a good idea, but it’s not enough.”
Cheon Yura voiced her concern.
“There’s no clear central figure. You need either power or authority. Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend lacks both. Even if things go smoothly at first, he won’t be able to maintain control for long.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
The limitations of being a Lust Fiend.
The limits of his martial arts, which were only at the early Master Level.
He had gathered the demonic sects in Colorful Flower Lord’s name, but now that Saekgun was gone, he’d soon hit a wall.
“So… about that. Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend did make a related request.”
“…Why are you looking at me like that with such ominous eyes?”
Baek Sang-ah instinctively took a step back.
“Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend wishes for Lady Demonic Sword Flower, a noble bloodline of the Cheon Clan, to step forward as the alliance’s central figure.”
“YOU BASTAAARD!”
Baek Sang-ah screamed and lunged for my collar.
“Oh ho! So that’s what a pro-Heavenly Demon Cult faction means?”
Cheon Yura clapped her hands together.
“A-are you insane?! Even if only temporarily, you want to make me the leader of the demonic factions, as if I were some Heavenly Demon Cult offshoot?!”
“It’s all just acting. Just acting.”
“It could actually be a pretty fun experien—”
“Shut up! Then you do it!”
Cutting Cheon Yura off mid-sentence, Baek Sang-ah collapsed back into her seat with a thump.
“There’s not a single person on my side here… What is my life even…”
I carefully approached Baek Sang-ah and gently placed my hand on her shoulder.
“My lady, this isn’t something to look at so pessimistically.”
“Pessimistically? It’s just flat-out hopeless!”
“This will be a tremendous help to your grandfather, the Sword King.”
“…What did you say?”
It was as if the devil himself had whispered in her ear.
Baek Sang-ah, who had been on the brink of a breakdown, snapped out of it for a moment.
With the slick tongue of a cunning snake, I began persuading her.
“This demonic alliance is nothing more than a tool to be used temporarily and discarded. You stepping forward is a noble act of chivalry, to prevent the innocent citizens of Luoyang from suffering.”
“I understand that part. But how does that help my grandfather?”
“Do you know how I’ve envisioned the conclusion of this so-called demonic alliance?”
“……”
After a moment of contemplation, her eyes suddenly widened and she lifted her head.
“W-wait, you don’t mean…?!”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Before the Third Demonic Alliance can take root in this place—”
“Before it takes root?!”
“Your grandfather, the Southern Heavenly Sword King, will personally arrive in Luoyang and rip it out at its source!”
“……!!”
Baek Sang-ah’s pupils widened dramatically.
“If that happens, the Sword King’s deeds will be praised across the entire world, and his standing within the Orthodox Alliance will become absolutely unshakable.”
“T-that’s certainly true!”
“Moreover, there’s no need to even go to the Orthodox Alliance. Once the Sword King arrives in Luoyang, all you have to do is return the Jade Green Heavenly Net Divine Sword to him. It’s the perfect win-win—kill two birds with one stone, as they say.”
“……”
Baek Sang-ah stared blankly, chewing over everything I had just said.
Cheon Yura, who had been watching the whole back-and-forth between the two of us, muttered a single sentence.
“I sometimes think it’s truly a blessing that you weren’t born into the orthodox sects…”
Hmm… was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?
At that moment—
Thud!
Baek Sang-ah, who had been slumped over, suddenly stood up once again.
“I’ll do it.”
“A splendid decision.”
“However… going out there with my face uncovered would be suicide. It’s just… way too embarrassing.”
“Then?”
With a solemn expression, Baek Sang-ah reached out toward Cheon Yura.
“Please… lend me your mask.”
“With pleasure!”
Cheon Yura beamed brightly.