Chapter 12. The Demon Realm Beyond Humanity (人外魔境) - The Solitary Bamboo Forest (孤竹林) (2)

Two days had passed.

"Master."

"......"

"I have brought water."

There was no response, as expected.

Madongfil sighed inwardly.

'Did he receive some kind of shock?'

Two days ago, the Third Master entered the residence within the Solitary Bamboo Forest, abstained from food and drink, and sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window. It would have been better if he had at least managed to sleep, but he stayed awake all night.

That didn't mean he was just sitting there in a daze.

He seemed to be deeply pondering something, but from Madongfil's perspective, it was impossible to know what.

'His body will be ruined.'

There was nothing he could do. He couldn't force his hand on the Master.

Finally, Madongfil gave up on trying to talk and turned to leave.

"Huh? It's morning?"

Madongfil was startled and looked at Tian Xiazhen.

Tian Xiazhen rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, as if washing it.

Madongfil suddenly knelt down.

"Have you finished your meditation?"

"Huh? Yeah, I guess. I didn't realize it was already morning."

"It's not just morning, Master. Two days have passed."

"Two days?!"

"Yes."

"Damn, no wonder my stomach feels so hollow."

"I am sorry."

"Why are you always so apologetic...?"

His face, which had not slept or drunk water for two days, was as gaunt as that of a sick person.

"Is there any water?"

"Yes!"

Madongfil handed him the bowl on the table.

Tian Xiazhen poured the water from the bowl directly into his mouth.

"Swallow, swallow! Gulp!"

The cold water poured into his mouth like a waterfall, accompanied by gulping sounds.

'Oh!'

Madongfil's face turned pale.

He hadn't expected him to drink so much cold water like a hero emptying a wine glass. Given his weakened state, drinking a whole bowl of cold water would surely upset his stomach.

But...

"Ah! Refreshing."

"Master, Master!"

"What is it?"

"Are you... alright?"

Tian Xiazhen tilted his head.

"What could be wrong? Anyway, the water here tastes good. Could I have another bowl?"

"Of course."

"This time, warm it a bit. It feels like my teeth are cracking."

"Understood!"

As soon as Madongfil darted out like an arrow, Tian Xiazhen flopped onto the bed.

"Hmm, yeah. Now my thoughts are clearer."

Despite his relaxed body, his face was frighteningly stiff.

"I can't leave."

He omitted the word 'for now'... but whatever.

He looked up at the ceiling and smiled.

"No matter how much I try, I can't leave."

At this point, he could only laugh helplessly.

He was amazed that he had spent two days just to come to this obvious conclusion. It had been over a hundred days since he woke up.

Now, he wouldn't waver. He wouldn't waste time on pointless thoughts.

He didn't have the time.

'Military Department? Demon God Palace? They were all meaningless. It was impossible from the start.'

He realized the fundamental reason for his excessive anxiety and the urge to escape immediately.

Was it a dream? No.

Was it prejudice against the Demon Sect? Even more so, no.

The real reason he thought he needed to flee immediately upon realizing he was the Third Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect...

"...was because it was uncomfortable."

And the source of that discomfort was the subtle sense of unease that permeated the air.

'I realized it too late.'

During the time he was known as the King of Assassins, he gained a gift called extrasensory perception.

He didn't intentionally seek it out. It was a natural talent that developed due to the constant threat of death, a combination of innate ability and a harsh environment.

He created the Tian Luo Liutong Shi (天羅六通式) technique, which amplified his extrasensory perception, and became a legend in the world of assassins.

'Extrasensory perception is not a martial art. It's a sensation etched into my soul, like when I met the Sect Leader.'

Tian Xiazhen smiled bitterly.

'When did I start mistaking it for a martial art?'

If he hadn't made that mistake, he might have seen through the situation more easily.

"But maybe it would have been even more confusing. Damn! Is this a helpful ability or not?"

The death an assassin faces is different from the death a martial artist faces.

A martial artist fights with weapons, but an assassin fights with 'moments.'

An assassin endures and focuses to capture a perfect moment, whether it takes three days or ten, focusing solely on that.

How well they capture that moment and how long they can maintain their focus determines their talent as an assassin.

Tian Xiazhen was a genius. He was a genius to the point where the title "First Under Heaven" in assassination was almost an understatement.

The Righteous Heaven Alliance, which failed to properly manage such a genius, threw him into a swamp of death at every moment. At times, he went on assassination missions three times a day.

The most prolific assassin in history, who eliminated more targets than anyone else.

The longest-serving assassin in history, who faced 'death' more than anyone else.

Tian Xiazhen's extrasensory perception was a fitting ability given his life's challenges.

And now...

Tian Xiazhen, who had not fully realized who he was, had completely regained his identity as the King of Assassins.

"Regardless, leaving here is the right thing to do. But it's impossible right now."

Understanding the essence, comprehending the situation.

"If so, I have no choice but to live as the Third Master of the Demon Sect, Xuliang, for the time being."

Accepting reality, planning for the future.

"What desires as the Third Master overlap with my desires for the future?"

Cross-checking, and...

"I need to get stronger."

Drawing a conclusion.

Tian Xiazhen's eyes gleamed.

"I need to get stronger. More than anything, getting stronger is the priority."

In a world where the weak are eliminated.

And the Heavenly Demon Sect, which upholds the principle of the strong, adheres to the law of the jungle more strictly than any other force in the martial world.

There was no passive approach of waiting to be eliminated. To survive here as Xuliang, he had to get stronger.

The same applied to Tian Xiazhen's future. He wanted to leave the martial world, but he didn't want to give up martial arts. The world is unpredictable, and martial arts were necessary for a safe life.

In the end, the only path he had to take, whether he lived or died, was one of martial arts.

'I won't use any more tricks. I will go out with my own feet and abilities.'

Just as he firmly resolved this, the door opened, and Madongfil entered.

"Master, I have brought water."

"Thank you."

Tian Xiazhen, who had drained the lukewarm water, said.

"Mr. Ma."

"Yes, Master."

"From now on, call me Master Xuliang."

"......Yes?"

Madongfil looked up at Tian Xiazhen, who was silently staring at him.

Suddenly, Madongfil felt a chill run down his spine.

The Third Master's gaze was extremely transparent, ambiguous like a human or a ghost, creating a chilling fear.

Madongfil hastily bowed his head.

"Understood, Master Xuliang."

Tian Xiazhen nodded.

'From now on, I am Xuliang.'

Until he left this place and became a confident person, he would live as Xuliang.

"I'm hungry. Let's eat."

"I will prepare it immediately."

Half an hour later, Tian Xiazhen, who had overdrunk and overeaten, suffered from a violent bout of diarrhea and exhaustion.

* * *

His resolve to go out with his own abilities grew firmer over time.

On the fifth day since entering the Solitary Bamboo Forest.

"Done!"

Tian Xiazhen, or rather Xuliang, clenched his fist with a single shout.

"My body is completely healed."

He was perfectly normal, with no room for improvement or reduction.

There was no trace of internal injuries, and his muscles were full of vitality. His previously damaged meridians were now smooth, and his internal organs were healthier and more active than his age suggested.

The growth of Wu'ai Gong (無愛功) was also encouraging.

'Shadow Level 4!'

Wu'ai Gong had broken through to Shadow Level 4. As a result, the process of purging turbid energy from his body was several times faster, and the purification ability of the Cleansing Array was much stronger.

'Finally!'

Xuliang's face beamed with pride.

'Finally, I have a solid foundation.'

From now on, the true path of martial arts begins. With his talent and the insights gained from his life as the King of Assassins, he could become strong in a short time without the need for elixirs.

And...

Rumble!!

Xuliang closed his eyes.

A strange resonance rose from deep within his body.

Even without opening his eyes, he could see the world, or rather, he could feel it as if he could see it.

The chirping of birds, the fluttering of insects, even the wriggling of worms, were vividly felt.

Tian Luo Liutong Shi (天羅六通式).

A technique to maximize his extrasensory perception and open the Mind Eye. With his current limited inner energy, he could only manage a fraction of its potential, but the fact that he could use it at all was significant.

"Great! Let's try flying!"

Wu'ai Gong, Tian Luo Liutong Shi, and Yan Ying Qi (暗影氣).

His knowledge of other assassination techniques and external martial arts was also abundant, but these three martial arts were the fundamental techniques that made him a legend.

He could use Wu'ai Gong and Tian Luo Liutong Shi, and once he mastered Yan Ying Qi, which was compiled from the secret techniques of the Nine Sects and One School, he would become strong quickly.

Filled with hope and excitement, Xuliang began reciting the incantations of Yan Ying Qi.

A moment later.

"Hold on."

Xuliang's eyes bulged. He had encountered an unexpected obstacle.

"Can I even learn Yan Ying Qi?"

This is the Heavenly Demon Sect.

And I am the... no, the Third Master, Xuliang.

I should know some demon arts. The Sect Leader probably taught me some demon arts directly.

But I don't know what they are?

'What the hell!'

Why are you so incompetent!

Xuliang, who had grabbed his head, let out a loud cry.

"Mr. Ma! Mr. Ma!"

A moment later, Madongfil darted out from somewhere in the bamboo forest. His sleeves were rolled up, and his body was quite dirty, indicating he had been doing some work.

"Did you call, Master Xuliang?"

"I have a question."

"Please ask."

"Among the Sect Leader's disciples, including me and my senior brothers and sisters..."

"Yes."

Xuliang swallowed.

"Is there anyone who hasn't learned demon arts?"

Madongfil's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Is that even possible? They are all practicing powerful demon arts bestowed by the Sect Leader."

"..."

"Master Xuliang, didn't you learn demon arts before entering the Demon Realm?"

"Y-Yes, I know! I know!"

"Indeed."

"..."

"..."

"By the way."

"Please ask."

"If, hypothetically speaking..."

Xuliang asked in a tense voice.

"If a Sect Leader's disciple learns a martial art other than demon arts, what happens?"

"......Yes?"

Madongfil, who rarely showed such a reaction, was clearly taken aback by the question.

"I don't understand what Master Xuliang means... I am sorry."

"Just literally! What happens if they don't learn demon arts?"

"That... I have never considered it. A demon sect member not learning demon arts? Can they even be called a demon sect member?"

Madongfil stammered.

"Such a thing... is unlikely to happen..."

Xuliang was completely despondent. From Madongfil's reaction, it was clear that such people were considered unworthy of being called demon sect members.

Well, honestly, it didn't matter that much. If he was expelled for that reason, it might not be a bad thing.

The problem was!

"Even if it's unlikely, if a prince or princess of the sect doesn't learn demon arts, the Sect Leader would be very displeased, I dare to guess."

"..."

"I am sorry."

Xuliang bowed deeply.

Madongfil was confused. He couldn't understand why the Master was acting this way.

After some time passed.

"Mr. Ma."

"Yes, Master Xuliang."

"Bring me all the demon art manuals that the Third Master can borrow."

Xuliang raised his head.

Madongfil, who was about to speak, was startled.

Xuliang's eyes, which were both smiling and crying, had a single tear rolling down.

"Please, quickly."