Chapter 9: Meeting the Sect Leader (4)

Drip.

Sweat trickled down his forehead, wetting the corners of his eyes.

Rumble!!

It sounded like a roar. Just a change in his gaze, and the warm spring breeze had turned into a cold winter gale.

"So, what I'm saying is..."

"Disappointing."

Li Chianshang spat out the words and refilled his glass.

Tian Xiazhen screamed inwardly.

What did I do wrong? I just want to go out for a bit, right? And when someone is talking, please don't interrupt them!

The words swirling in his mind were all things he couldn't say out loud.

Tian Xiazhen took a deep breath.

"Master."

Li Chianshang didn't even look at him, just slowly emptied his glass and refilled it again.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding..."

"Misunderstanding?"

The same indifferent voice. It was impossible to tell what this man was thinking.

'Frustrating! I can't read his expression!'

Moreover, the way he cut off his words made it hard to even open his mouth.

But he couldn't just stand there. After all, he was the one who set this up; he couldn't just leave with a bucket of sweat.

Tian Xiazhen rolled his eyes, deep in thought.

What should I do? He doesn't seem incredibly angry, but he doesn't seem happy either. Well, there wasn't anything particularly joyful to say.

After a moment of frantic thinking, Tian Xiazhen felt a sense of resignation.

'...Damn it.'

Screw it, I don't know.

Now, the only way is to be straightforward. This man clearly hates beating around the bush more than a venomous snake.

Moreover, he seems to believe his own thoughts without a doubt.

Fine! I want to cut ties with this place! Your thoughts are right! I admit it!

'Since it's come to this, I might as well speak my mind clearly!'

Life is lived once, not twice... or three times!

After all, I've already died once. There's nothing to regret or fear about dying again.

"Master!"

A thunderous start.

Tian Xiazhen lifted his head.

"I...!"

At that moment.

Rumble!

'...!!'

His body stiffened.

Li Chianshang's expression remained as indifferent as ever. He wasn't emitting any aura or presence.

But Tian Xiazhen, who had seen the unique gaze of the unparalleled Demon God, felt his bones freeze.

Eyes that contained the flames of the endless hell.

The gaze of an absolute being was itself a symbol of authority, intimidation, and fear.

There was no need to prove himself through meaningless words; he was a complete being on his own.

The contemporary strongest Demon God, who could mock the principles of the universe and burn the heavens, was about to swallow the Death God, who had yet to shed his human form.

"...Ah, I'm not trying to cut ties."

Li Chianshang's eyes gleamed.

"Then?"

Tian Xiazhen stammered.

"I just want to get some fresh air."

"..."

"I... My body hasn't fully recovered yet, and I've lost my martial arts skills."

"So?"

"It's a bit complicated. I tried to calm my mind, but it's not easy."

"..."

"I... So, I thought I'd go out for a bit... to ask for your permission. Yes, that's it."

"..."

"How could I ever think of cutting ties with the sect, ha ha! I, Tian... Xiliang! I'm not going anywhere! No, I'm not."

Li Chianshang's eyes narrowed.

The surprise in his gaze as he looked at his chattering disciple was evident.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's right."

"So, you wanted to see me just to ask for permission to go out?"

...Huh?

'Oh, damn it.'

Tian Xiazhen cursed his own simplicity.

Thinking about it, it was really absurd.

The reason for wanting to meet the Supreme Demon God, the leader of the Demon God Sect, was just to ask for permission to go out?

Anyone would be speechless. He should have come with a more important reason than just asking for permission to go out.

That's why he talked about cutting ties. A reason like that would be enough to meet the Supreme Demon God.

'To me, going out is an important reason!'

But would the other party think it was important?

"...I also wanted to see my master after so long."

Li Chianshang's eyebrows twitched.

It was the first sign of emotion, but Tian Xiazhen was too busy chattering to notice.

"Even if things have come to this, there's still the duty of a disciple, right? I haven't repaid even a fraction of the favors I've received, and I feel guilty for not greeting you properly."

Since he had taken the first step, Tian Xiazhen tried his best to appeal to the other's emotions.

They say that while debts can be repaid, emotional debts cannot. Emotions are that important.

The relationship between master and disciple is like a bond of nature, just like blood relations.

I don't know if this stone-like man has any emotions, but surely he wouldn't get angry if a disciple came to see his master, right?

Swoosh.

The glass in Li Chianshang's hand turned to powder and scattered.

His expression remained indifferent, but the burning gaze revealed his twisted thoughts.

'...Why are you angry?!'

Sss!

The air, heavy with tension, heated up.

"You spoke of the duty of a disciple?"

"Huh?"

"If you know your duty, you shouldn't have appeared before me in such a state."

Tian Xiazhen's mouth dropped open.

A disciple who had survived a demonic transformation came to greet him, and he says he doesn't know his duty?

What? Am I the one who's wrong? No, I really don't understand. Why is this considered not knowing one's duty? Someone, please explain!

Li Chianshang stood up.

Boom!

He was terrifying even when sitting, but standing, he was truly as massive as Mount Tai.

Turning his back, he spoke bluntly.

"In four days, I'll send someone."

"..."

Four days? Someone?

"Go back."

Go back? Back to my quarters?!

Tian Xiazhen was dumbfounded.

Wait a minute! What about my request? What about going out? Can I just leave on my own? Will I really do that?

"..."

Li Chianshang glanced at Tian Xiazhen.

Ugh!

The silent gaze made him inexplicably angry.

This man has been talking to me like I'm not even here since the beginning. Does he have any respect for the other party? Does he even understand the essence of conversation? !

?

I, despite my appearance, was once considered one of the Ten Great Martial Artists!

Tian Xiazhen stood up resolutely.

And bowed politely.

"I'll see you later."

Let's go back for now.

* * *

"Did you call for me, Master?"

"Hmm."

Li Chianshang, seated on a grand chair, stood up after receiving Wudan's greeting.

Thud, thud.

Just his walking made people tense.

Even Wudan, who was considered on par with the Ten Great Martial Artists, felt his hair stand on end as Li Chianshang approached.

Thump.

Li Chianshang moved to the window and poured a glass from one of the many bottles.

Wudan remained in a prostrate position.

"Come here."

"Yes."

Wudan stood up and cautiously approached Li Chianshang.

Li Chianshang extended the glass.

"Have a drink."

"I am honored."

Wudan received the glass respectfully, turned his head to empty it, and immediately took three steps back, kneeling and bowing.

This was a gesture of extreme respect, something only shown to a god incarnate.

Li Chianshang asked calmly.

"What has happened to the third one recently?"

Wudan's face showed surprise. Li Chianshang rarely inquired about his disciples.

Curiosity was a sin for those who served a god.

"He has been recovering at his quarters."

"Is that all?"

"...Yes."

"I see."

The indifference in his short answer remained.

But Wudan, who had served Li Chianshang for decades, could tell. The Master was slightly different from usual.

It was a sacrilege to even guess, but if he had to think...

'Interest?'

In whom? Surely not the third disciple?

Wudan, inwardly puzzled, was startled by Li Chianshang's next words.

"Quite impressive."

"..."

"I thought he was a mere beast, but it turned out to be a venomous snake. I was disappointed."

"..."

"Today, I saw him with a pearl in his mouth."

Wudan's eyes widened.

The corners of Li Chianshang's mouth twitched slightly.

It was a very small movement, but it was astonishing to see a change in an expression that seemed unchangeable for a thousand years.

Li Chianshang recalled the Demon Selection Hall.

The mysterious and astonishing scene the third one had shown.

'He may have moved away from the path of demons, but he understood death.'

Demon Selection Hall.

The name was not given lightly. The formation surrounding it was a supreme art, developed from ancient times, maintained by the Demon God's demonic aura.

To discern demons.

Demons are what the Demon God brings, and discerning them is the task of the Demon God and the formation.

Since the formation is maintained by the Demon God's demonic aura, the master of the Demon Selection Hall can only be the Demon God.

The Demon Selection Hall materializes the mind of those who enter. It not only shows their current state and what they pursue but also reveals parts of their subconscious.

If the person does not meet the Demon God's approval?

If a single thread of killing intent arises in the Demon God's heart?

Then the Demon Selection Hall, a demonic formation, attacks the target. It destroys them cruelly the moment the Demon God decides to kill.

It is the ultimate method to discern a person's true intentions. However, the Demon Selection Hall cannot be left open indefinitely.

The method to activate the Demon Selection Hall, the duration, and the time before it can be activated again are secrets known only to the Demon God.

"Is the Bamboo Forest well-maintained?"

"Yes? Ah, yes! We send personnel from the Law Enforcement Hall every two days to manage it."

"Any casualties?"

"On average, five casualties per month, but fortunately, there have been no deaths in the past four months."

"You've done well with the children."

Li Chianshang emptied his glass and handed it to Wudan, who carefully refilled it.

But Li Chianshang still held the glass.

"Have a drink with me."

"..."

Li Chianshang said no more.

Wudan, feeling honored, filled his own glass and cautiously lifted it.

Clink!

The sound of the glasses clinking was very clear.

One drank it down heartily, the other respectfully.

"This is a gift for your hard work."

"No, no! It was my duty."

Wudan's face was flushed with emotion. He never expected the Demon God to propose a toast.

Even the nectar of the heavens or the allure of a beauty would not be as sweet as this. It was a gift he would never forget until his dying day.

As he was intoxicated by the Demon God's gift,

"Dismiss the children for a while."

"..."

Li Chianshang put down his glass and sat back on the grand chair.

"I'll send the third one to the Bamboo Forest."

Wudan's face turned pale.

"To the Bamboo Forest...?"

He knew how important the Bamboo Forest was to the new sect.

And how dangerous it was, if not more so, than its importance.

Li Chianshang rested his chin on his hand.

Was the interest Wudan saw in his indifferent face just an illusion?

"A good place to get some fresh air."