Chapter 13. The Demon Realm Beyond Humanity (人外魔境) - The Solitary Bamboo Forest (孤竹林) (3)

"Secret manual of demon arts?"

"...Yes."

Wutan slowly tilted his head to the side.

Suddenly? Why? Is he trying to get some kind of stimulation from the manuals?

Madongbi briefly nodded and continued.

"Since it was said that Master Xue's nameplate is stored in the Law Enforcement Hall, I first went to look for it..."

At that moment, Wutan's eyes sharpened.

"Master Xue?"

Madongbi realized his mistake.

"Actually..."

He recounted his conversation with Xueliang to Wutan.

Wutan frowned.

"Master himself requested it?"

"Yes."

"..."

I don't understand. I can't comprehend the actions of the Third Master at all.

'Has he really been affected mentally?'

Since waking from the demonic possession, the Third Master has shown a completely different side.

He had once asked the maid Yinghua about the Third Master after hearing the Grandmaster's words.

If I extract the meaningful parts from Yinghua's words...

- The Third Master is showing a very different side compared to before...

- His tone and actions seem a bit confused...

- No! It's not that he's violent... it's just that he seems at a loss...

And now, Madongbi's report.

'It seems like he's become a completely different person.'

The Third Master he knew was talented but excessively arrogant and greedy. He had no regard for those he considered beneath him.

A tyrant. If someone annoyed him, he would kill them without any reason. That was the Third Master.

But since waking from the demonic possession, he seems to have become a completely different person.

After much contemplation, Wutan took out a golden key from his robes.

"Take it."

"..."

Madongbi's eyes widened.

"Grandmaster, this is..."

"As you know, the loan period is three days. Take four or five volumes, mixed with other manuals."

"...Understood. Please prepare the release permit."

Wutan immediately prepared the permit, stamped it, and handed it to him.

"If anything happens, contact me immediately."

"Yes!"

"Ah, and have you explained the Solitary Bamboo Forest to the Master?"

"Not yet. I plan to do so today."

Wutan frowned.

"Do you not know how dangerous the Solitary Bamboo Forest is? The area near the residence is safe, but it's not perfect. Try to explain it to him as soon as possible."

"Yes."

"Let's go for now."

Madongbi bowed deeply and disappeared.

Wutan walked to the window, his face dark.

'What did the Grandmaster see in the Third Master to send him to the Solitary Bamboo Forest?'

The Solitary Bamboo Forest.

A demonic forest that existed even before the Heavenly Demon Sect established itself in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

It was a gift that transformed a small sect with only an absolute strongman, the First Generation Heavenly Demon, into a great sect in a short time, and it has claimed countless lives of demons over a thousand years.

It bestows the greatest gift to those with the right connection, but drags those without it into the depths of death.

This is why only a few people who have lived in the Solitary Bamboo Forest have ever walked out unscathed.

"From the Demon Suppression Hall to the Solitary Bamboo Forest. The Third Master has already faced the Grandmaster's test twice."

He passed the test in the Demon Suppression Hall.

What will happen in the Solitary Bamboo Forest? In this life-or-death test, where will the Third Master's fate lead?

* * *

"One, two, three, four... seventeen."

"..."

"Seventeen?!"

Madongbi bowed.

"I only selected the best ones, so the number of volumes is not large."

Xueliang felt exasperated.

Not many? Isn't that too many?

'Well, it doesn't matter.'

Having many books to refer to is good for him. It means he can properly delve into the system of demon arts.

As he gazed at the manuals, Xueliang's expression suddenly turned uncomfortable.

'Damn! Do I really have to learn demon arts now?'

Muttering to himself, he shook his head.

'Don't be biased. Thinking of demon arts as inferior to divine arts makes it hard to see their essence.'

Look at them clearly and transparently. Think of studying demon arts as learning a new system.

...For now.

'Besides, the Grandmaster also learned demon arts.'

Rumors about the Grandmaster of the Demon Sect were rampant, but he thought the greatest martial artist would be on the side of the righteous sects.

It was a huge misconception. At least, the Grandmaster of the Demon Sect that Xueliang saw was a supreme expert far surpassing any great masters of the righteous sects.

'It's not something that can be achieved by talent alone. There must be a higher-level martial art among demon arts.'

It was a correct thought.

'And if it doesn't work out, I can just spit it out.'

I have the Indifference Art, after all. My recovery ability is unmatched by anyone in the world.

After organizing his thoughts, Xueliang immediately picked up a book.

At that moment, Madongbi said,

"Master Xue, there's something I need to mention in advance."

"Hm, go on."

"Of the seventeen volumes, three must be returned in four days. If you don't have time, I suggest you read those three first."

Xueliang's eyes widened.

"Three? Four days?"

"Yes."

"Then what about the others?"

"Officially, it's fifteen days, but since they are all copies, you can return them in a month without any problems."

"Why do those three manuals need to be returned in four days?"

Indeed, there must be something wrong with the Master's memory.

Madongbi carefully selected three volumes.

Xueliang's eyes sparkled.

'Oh?'

These don't look like copies at all?

"These three are the Ten Great Demon Arts of our sect."

The Ten Great Demon Arts.

They are the top-tier demon arts carefully selected from the Heavenly Demon Sect, and mastering even one of them can make one look down upon the world.

"As you know, they have been permitted to the First Master, Second Master, and Third Master."

"Is that so?"

"Or, do you not remember?"

After a moment, Xueliang quickly pressed his thumbs against his temples.

"I don't. Why would I say I need manuals if I didn't?"

Indeed...

Madongbi's face showed pity.

The past Third Master's brutality was well-known throughout the Demon Sect. Madongbi couldn't have been unaware of it.

But now that he has lost his memory, a sense of human empathy arose. He couldn't imagine how frustrating it must be to not remember the past.

Of course, this pity was very brief.

'Maybe it's self-inflicted.'

Madongbi shook his head, realizing that such thoughts were disrespectful.

"Anyway, three days, right? Then I'll read these first. Understood."

"Ah, and..."

Madongbi hesitated.

Xueliang was already reading one of the Ten Great Demon Arts, the Blood Catastrophe Demon Art.

It wasn't the right time to speak. His eyes were moving intensely, showing deep concentration.

Madongbi hesitated, then finally sighed.

'No choice.'

He intended to explain the Solitary Bamboo Forest but failed again. Xueliang was reading one of the highest-level manuals that needed to be read within four days. It would be impolite to break his concentration.

He looked around.

'No signs yet, and the preparations are well done.'

The 'creatures' will only start moving intensely in fifteen days.

Moreover, this place is the safest area in the Solitary Bamboo Forest. The 'creatures' rarely come here, and even if they do, they are not particularly dangerous.

Grip.

Madongbi's face showed determination as he gripped the sword at his waist.

'Still, stay alert.'

He carefully left the room to avoid disturbing Xueliang.

After some time,

"Hm?"

Xueliang looked around.

"What?"

He felt like someone was watching him.

After rubbing the back of his neck, Xueliang fixed his gaze back on the book.

I thought these demon arts were all extremely vicious, but they have a profound side.

Feeling unexpected interest, Xueliang delved back into the Blood Catastrophe Demon Art.

Flash!

Beyond the window, a pair of green eyes flickered in the dense forest.

* * *

Three days passed.

"Have you finished reading?"

"Yeah, take them."

Madongbi looked around in surprise.

Xueliang had not only read the three volumes of the Ten Great Demon Arts but seemed to have read over ten other demon art manuals.

"Did you... read all of these?"

"Yeah."

"..."

"Why?"

"Ah, no."

Did he really read all of these?

It's doubtful that he could have comprehended them all just by reading.

Moreover, he must have analyzed and broken down the characteristics of each demon art.

To finish all but a few in four days? Is that even possible?

Xueliang, noticing Madongbi's stunned expression, frowned.

"What are you doing? Take them."

"Ah, yes!"

"And when you come back, bring some suitable weapons."

"What kind of weapons?"

"Any type. Swords, sabers, spears, anything that seems useful, bring it."

"Understood."

Since he needs to survive here, some preparation is necessary. Madongbi quickly left the Solitary Bamboo Forest with the three volumes.

Stopping at the entrance, he glanced back.

'He should be fine.'

Nothing has happened so far. As long as he stays in the residence, there shouldn't be any problems.

Madongbi left the Solitary Bamboo Forest...

"Ugh!"

Xueliang flopped onto the bed.

His face showed fatigue, but he looked unusually serious.

"Demon arts... this is not ordinary."

He was genuinely impressed by the demon arts.

The Shadow Art he had learned in the past was one of the top techniques in the martial world, though not widely known.

It was natural, as the Shadow Art was a martial art created by combining the secret techniques of the Nine Sects and One School. While it wasn't stronger than their secret techniques, it was the most profound and pure.

The demon arts were different.

They emphasized innovation over purity, output over stability, offense over defense, and direct power over flexibility.

And this approach resonated with the methods of assassins.

"The Ten Great Demon Arts..."

Xueliang slowly touched his lips.

"Indeed, they are incredible martial arts."

Each one was a top-tier martial art. Just by studying multiple demon arts, Xueliang's understanding had grown beyond what it was when he was a king of assassins.

The problem was...

"There's no need to learn them."

He lifted the manual he had been reading.

'True Demon Art?'

Madongbi had one misunderstanding.

Xueliang hadn't just read a few volumes. He had already read all the manuals and was now rereading the True Demon Art, which he found intriguing.

'This one... might be okay...'

A demon art that couldn't match the Ten Great Demon Arts in terms of level.

But he didn't intend to learn the demon art itself.

Xueliang, staring at the manual, ran his fingers through his hair.

"Ah, forget it! Let's clear my head first."

He sat cross-legged on the bed and practiced the Indifference Art.

Whoosh.

The air in the room cleared, and Xueliang's face relaxed.

'When I feel stuffy, the Indifference Art is the best...'

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

'...?'

A faint sound, not audible but sensed instinctively.

He slowly uncrossed his legs and turned his gaze to the window.

Flash!

A pair of glowing green eyes.

Xueliang's mouth dropped open.

"What, what is that?"

Boom!

The creature with the glowing eyes leaped towards the window at incredible speed.