Chapter 49
“Take off the face covering.”
It was when I was nervously biting my lip, overwhelmed by the situation, that Jeok I-geon’s voice came to me through sound transmission.
I looked up at him with an incredulous expression.
Wasn’t the attention already unbearable? How could I manage without the face covering?
“You are the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
Who doesn’t know that already?
“Show them. Show them that you are the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
They already know.
“The Heavenly Demon is the Demonic Cult. And you are the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
“…!”
That’s right. This was the Demonic Cult.
A place where tens of thousands of demonic practitioners pledged their lives to a single person.
And I was the sole disciple of that person.
There was no reason for me to shrink back.
Of course! I hadn’t committed a crime, so why should I feel intimidated?
I was already scheduled to make my debut at the sparring tournament today.
Revealing my face a bit earlier wouldn’t change anything.
Maybe I should’ve worn some makeup.
Regretting that, I raised my head and removed the face covering.
And since it had come to this, I decided to flash a bright smile.
“Woooooaaah!”
A thunderous cheer erupted.
I’d never heard such applause in my life.
“She’s a peerless beauty, worthy of being the Heavenly Demon’s disciple!”
“The Heavenly Demon’s disciple smiled at me!”
I hadn’t looked at anyone in particular, though.
Ahaha!
Forcing myself to smile was making my lips twitch.
At least the response wasn’t bad, but how was I supposed to get out of here now?
The cheers only drew more people, blocking all exits.
In an instant, I was surrounded by the crowd.
“There.”
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, Jeok I-geon grabbed my hand and leapt into the air.
“Seo Ryeon!”
I instinctively called out for her while activating the Demonic Phoenix Sky Art.
Seo Ryeon followed closely behind, and soon the three of us landed quietly behind the relatively empty Mado Hall.
“Phew, we’re safe!”
Finally free from the crowd, I could breathe again.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
“Are you alright?”
Would you be alright if it were you?
Unable to hold back, I glared at Jeok I-geon.
This was all his fault!
Why did he have to show up and make this mess?
“…Ahem, would you like to visit the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing?”
What was that?
Was Jeok I-geon avoiding my gaze?
The way he coughed and turned his head made it seem like he was gauging my reaction.
No way. Not him.
“Just a bit overwhelmed, that’s all. If I went to the Medical Wing for this, they’d just laugh at me.”
“In that case, how about returning to Yeong-eun Pavilion to rest?”
“Seo Ryeon, what are you talking about? I haven’t even seen much of the sparring yet.”
“What if the same thing happens again?”
“Come on, it won’t happen twice.”
I purposely glanced at Jeok I-geon, silently warning him not to follow.
“To avoid disgracing Master, I must win. But I’ve only sparred with three people, including the Young Master. I want to see how others fight.”
If the Heavenly Demon’s disciple didn’t win, I’d be a laughingstock for life.
It would also tarnish my Master’s reputation.
Although I had grown beyond recognition thanks to the intense training, I still lacked experience.
Watching the sparring matches could help fill that gap.
So I couldn’t just leave now.
“I’ll come back in the afternoon.”
Finally, Jeok I-geon relented.
He was just as desperate for my victory.
“Stay vigilant at all times.”
After giving me a brief once-over, he left, leaving Seo Ryeon with a few words of caution.
“Ah, the clothes!”
I hadn’t even thanked him for the outfit because of all the chaos.
Why do these thoughts only come after the fact?
“Wait!”
Another realization struck me—I no longer had the sweet treat in my hand.
“Lady Seol-ha, what’s wrong?”
“The treat is gone.”
“Pardon?”
“I must’ve dropped it somewhere.”
I really wanted to try it.
“…We can’t go back, can we?”
“The crowd is probably still there.”
“No choice, then. Let’s just watch the matches.”
It wasn’t the end of the world.
Convincing myself, I returned to the venue with Seo Ryeon.
Fortunately, no one recognized me near the sparring stage.
Thanks to that, I could fully immerse myself in watching the matches.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected spectating to be this fun.
For once, I felt my blood boiling with excitement, and I almost climbed onto the stage a few times.
So this is what competitive spirit feels like.
I hadn’t realized I had such a strong desire to win.
“Oh? Isn’t that Jang Song?”
Finally, someone I recognized stepped into the arena.
“How did you recognize him at a glance?”
“His weapon is distinctive. If you don’t recognize someone wielding such a massive axe, you’d have to be an idiot.”
The Wind Demon’s Giant Axe, Jang Song.
He was one of the strong Eight Extremities contenders that Cheon Gang had investigated.
Jeok I-geon, ever so thorough, had not only identified the top contenders but also mimicked their fighting styles during my training matches.
It felt like fighting eight people every single day, even though there was only one of him.
Though the Eight Extremities hadn’t even begun yet, watching Jang Song’s match made me realize just how much those sessions with Jeok I-geon had helped.
It was almost an exact replica.
Once again, I marveled at the unparalleled talent of Jeok I-geon, the one who sought to unify the martial world.
“Jang Song wins!”
The match ended swiftly, with Jang Song emerging victorious, as expected.
Will I end up facing him?
If that happens, I’ll make sure to shatter his axe.
To solidify my position as the Heavenly Demon’s disciple, I needed to show something extraordinary.
But contrary to my expectations, my first opponent wasn’t Jang Song.
“The team leader of the Ten Thousand Demons Corps, Blood Bear Im Woong!”
A large man who looked as fierce as a bear ascended the stage.
He glanced around, then saluted the audience with a cupped fist.
“I am Im Woong. Due to a minor mishap during my entrance exam, I ended up as a mere team leader of the Ten Thousand Demons Corps. But back in my hometown, I made quite a name for myself. Just hearing the name Blood Bear would make bawling kids freeze in terror!”
While he seemed to be introducing himself in a boisterous manner, it was clear he wasn’t satisfied with his current position and was angling for a promotion.
“Only the strong survive!”
“If you want it, just win!”
The demonic practitioners shouted, and Im Woong responded with a hearty laugh.
“That’s exactly why I’m here! Hahaha!”
The sparring tournament came with substantial prize money, but most participants weren’t there for the money.
Their goal was to display their martial prowess and use it as a stepping stone for greater opportunities.
“If only I hadn’t drunk so much last night… haha!”
What a pathetic excuse.
The real problem was his poor judgment in getting drunk before a tournament.
Waiting for my first match below the stage, I found his excuse utterly ridiculous.
It only strengthened my resolve not to lose to someone like him.
“The Heavenly Demon’s disciple, making her debut, Shin Seol-ha!”
Finally, my name was called.
I could already feel countless eyes focusing on me.
An immeasurable crowd of demonic practitioners had gathered to witness my debut, and naturally, the Heavenly Demon himself was among them.
When he personally led the leaders to watch my match, I fully understood the meaning behind Jeok I-geon’s words: “The Heavenly Demon is the Demonic Cult.”
Seeing countless practitioners kneeling and bowing to him was an overwhelming sight.
The fact that I was his disciple weighed heavily on me.
But there was no turning back now.
The only thing left to do was to perform splendidly in my debut.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly took my first step.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Suddenly, Jeok I-geon’s voice echoed in my mind.
So much for trying not to show it—his perceptiveness was unmatched.
“You can win.”
Of course.
I have to win.
My goal today was to win three matches.
“Just do as you’ve practiced.”
Got it.
How many jars did I break because of this guy?
If only to make up for the cost of the jars at Yeong-eun Pavilion, I absolutely had to win today.
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