Chapter 54

(54) The Demon's Selection

That night.

Fan Jiewei and Han Xuehua gathered in the secret chamber of Chao Ailiang.

"Is that guy Nodanyang acting like he owns the place?"

In response to Fan Jiewei's question, Chao Ailiang snorted derisively.

"That arrogant guy has now even taken on the authority of the Martial Forest Alliance, so he thinks he's invincible."

"But why did he become a lackey of the Martial Forest Alliance? And he even brought all his subordinates along."

"According to Neng Suomi, it seems he made a promise with the leader of the Martial Forest Alliance."

"What kind of promise?"

"It seems we haven't figured out the full details yet."

The problem was the Demon Slayer Sect, which Neng Suomi led.

Although Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiewei had taken down a considerable number of Demon Slayer Sect warriors, it was only a fraction of them.

Moreover, at this very moment, the number of Demon Slayer Sect members was rapidly increasing.

They were using the authority and power of the Martial Forest Alliance to absorb small and medium-sized factions like the Xin Shaofang, expanding their influence.

"At this rate, it won't be long before the Martial Forest Alliance swallows the entire martial world."

Chao Ailiang couldn't hide his discomfort at Fan Jiewei's prediction.

The situation was not to his liking, but he couldn't deny the current reality.

"Witch, what do you think?"

Han Xuehua, who had been sipping tea silently, replied indifferently.

"I don't care."

"Then why are you listening?"

Han Xuehua answered with an annoyed look.

"Think of me as not being here."

The two were taken aback.

After a moment,

"Hey, witch."

Fan Jiewei asked Han Xuehua.

"Are you honestly having fun with us?"

"......?"

"Ever since we started talking, you've always been around, haven't you?"

"......"

Han Xuehua continued to sip her tea in silence.

Chao Ailiang spoke to her as she lifted the teacup to her mouth again.

"Didn't I see that cup was empty just now?"

Han Xuehua hesitated.

Feeling embarrassed, she put down the teacup and tried to leave.

Chao Ailiang stopped her.

"Just stay. We'll talk about the Sevenfold Demon Lord later, but now we need to discuss Duan Yiyuan."

Duan Yiyuan's name made Fan Jiewei react first.

"Is there a problem with Duan Yiyuan?"

When Han Xuehai sat down again, Chao Ailiang began to speak.

"Internal cultivation technique. Once he decides to learn it, he can't delay any longer."

"True. Starting now is already quite late."

Han Xuehua offered her opinion for the first time.

"We can't ruin a talent like him."

Chao Ailiang nodded and asked the two.

"When do you think we can start?"

"Technically, we have a solid foundation, but..."

Fan Jiewei hesitated before cautiously speaking.

"Theory and practice are quite different."

The three were silent for a moment.

As Fan Jiewei said, there were still many variables.

They couldn't rashly teach the incomplete internal cultivation technique to Duan Yiyuan.

"Should we find someone and teach them to see how it goes?"

Chao Ailiang's eyes lit up at Fan Jiewei's casual suggestion.

"Good idea?"

"Huh? Really?"

Unlike the flustered Fan Jiewei, Han Xuehua immediately caught on to Chao Ailiang's thoughts.

"There's a suitable candidate who just came in."

"Really? That's true?"

Fan Jiewei finally understood the intentions of the two.

"But what if something goes wrong?"

Chao Ailiang answered Fan Jiewei's question.

"We can fix it. The method to treat broken meridians originally came from the method to treat demonic possession, didn't it?"

"Right, that's true."

The three shared a meaningful laugh.

Thus, once again, Neng Suomi's fate was decided without his consent.

At the same time.

Neng Suomi felt a sudden chill, for no apparent reason.

He thought it might be due to the cooler night air, but it wasn't.

'What is this ominous feeling?'

He looked around, but saw nothing unusual.

'Maybe it's because I'm nervous?'

As he watched the back of Shiwuxin, who was walking ahead, Neng Suomi nodded to himself.

'Of course.'

The title "Shiwuxin" wasn't given lightly. The person in front of him was capable of hiding a knife in a smile.

It would be strange not to be nervous.

Shiwuxin pointed to a secret chamber next to the warehouse.

"You'll be staying here for a while."

Neng Suomi, sensing Shiwuxin's mood, cautiously asked.

"Isn't this the Chief's quarters?"

"We can't let a patient be exposed to the night dew, can we?"

Shiwuxin smiled kindly.

"You must be tired from the long journey. Don't worry, just rest comfortably."

Neng Suomi stared at Shiwuxin.

His excessive kindness only increased Neng Suomi's suspicion and unease.

'Why is he doing this? Why is he being so nice?'

Shiwuxin even prepared the bedding and a cup of water for him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Neng Suomi asked.

"Sir..."

"......?"

"Wasn't Sir called Shiwuxin...? Sir is a senior, right?"

Shiwuxin answered with a gentle look.

"Yes, I was called that. But now I'm just the Chief of Demon Valley."

Neng Suomi wondered how much of that to believe.

Shiwuxin continued in a kind tone.

"I know how you feel. I felt the same way. But this place is ultimately where people live. You'll get used to it. The three seniors and the Valley Lord are all respectable people."

Neng Suomi felt a renewed sense of caution at those words.

'Right, he mentioned the physician.'

He wanted to find Duan Yiyuan and ask what medicine he had given.

Otherwise, it was hard to explain why the notorious Shiwuxin was acting like an enlightened monk.

At that moment,

Neng Suomi saw Chao Ailiang, Fan Jiewei, and Han Xuehua standing behind him, all with peculiar expressions.

"Is your name Neng Suomi?"

Fan Jiewei's question made Neng Suomi flinch.

"Yes? Yes!"

"What kind of meat do you like?"

"Excuse me?"

"Want me to ask again?"

Fan Jiewei frowned, and Neng Suomi hurriedly answered.

"Pork! I like pork!"

"Got it."

Fan Jiewei turned and left.

Then Han Xuehua asked.

"What about fruit?"

"Excuse me?"

"......"

Under Han Xuehua's intense gaze, Neng Suomi quickly replied.

"Strawberries! I like wild strawberries."

Han Xuehua also turned and left without a word.

Chao Ailiang asked next.

"What kind of alcohol do you like?"

"Rice wine..."

Without waiting for a full answer, Chao Ailiang disappeared.

Neng Suomi stood there, bewildered.

"What just happened?"

Finally regaining his composure, Neng Suomi asked Shiwuxin.

Shiwuxin smiled and answered.

"Seeing the seniors like you makes me happy. Go rest now. I still have work to do."

"I'll help."

"Didn't you hear the Valley Lord say you need to rest? Don't worry, just get some good sleep."

With that, Shiwuxin also left without a backward glance.

Left alone, Neng Suomi couldn't hide his confusion.

'What is this? Why am I so uneasy?'

Neng Suomi didn't take long to understand the reason.

The next morning.

Neng Suomi blinked at the lavish spread of food in front of him.

There was steamed fish, a plate full of wild strawberries, and a bottle of rice wine brought in at dawn.

In contrast, the others' meals were all vegetables.

'Why only me?'

He felt so uncomfortable that he couldn't bring himself to eat.

Fan Jiewei suddenly spoke to the hesitant Neng Suomi.

"What are you doing? Not eating?"

Chao Ailiang and Han Xuehua were the same.

Under the intense gazes of the three, Neng Suomi reluctantly brought the food to his mouth.

"Shall we eat together?"

Feeling embarrassed eating alone, Neng Suomi cautiously asked.

But the three only shook their heads with meaningful smiles.

"No, you eat it all."

Fan Jiewei pushed the food toward Neng Suomi.

"Thank you."

"No, we should be the ones to thank you."

"Excuse me?"

"Eat quickly. Don't leave anything."

Even as he ate the delicious food, Neng Suomi couldn't enjoy it.

He was so tense that he couldn't tell if the food was entering his nose or his mouth.

He wanted to leave some food because his stomach was full, but he couldn't.

The intense gazes of the three, fixed on him, made it impossible to leave any food.

Finally, after forcing down all the food, Neng Suomi panted.

"Done?"

"Yes..."

Neng Suomi barely managed to answer Chao Ailiang's question.

"Then come with us for a moment."

"......"

Led to a secluded place by the three, Neng Suomi felt his suppressed unease rising.

Sure enough,

"Are you telling me to give up my martial arts?"

The shocking words made Neng Suomi exclaim in surprise.

Although his skills were nothing compared to theirs, he was still a martial artist.

He could die, but he couldn't give up his martial arts.

Chao Ailiang clicked his tongue at Fan Jiewei.

"Tsk! How can he understand if you cut to the chase like that?"

Fan Jiewei, looking aggrieved, said.

"But it's not wrong. To learn a new internal cultivation technique, he needs to dispel his existing internal energy first, right?"

"You should have explained the reason first. Look at him. He's scared stiff. How can he learn martial arts willingly like this?"

"If he doesn't want to, what can he do?"

Fan Jiewei glared at Neng Suomi.

"Tell me. Do you not want to learn martial arts from us?"

"That, that's..."

Facing Fan Jiewei's killing intent up close, Neng Suomi's face turned pale.

Chao Ailiang, throwing a disdainful look at Fan Jiewei, stepped forward.

"After this experience, you must have gained some insights."

Neng Suomi, who had been trembling in fear, regained his composure at Chao Ailiang's words.

"Since you've worked so hard for me, shouldn't I give you a proper reward?"

"Reward?"

"We will personally teach you martial arts."

Feeling something was off, Neng Suomi quickly waved his hands.

"No, no! I'm fine! I didn't do it for a reward!"

"Don't refuse."

At that moment, Fan Jiewei interjected.

"You can't refuse."

"......!"

"Surely you're not ignoring our goodwill, are you?"

Neng Suomi, now pale, finally understood why they had brought him meat and alcohol.

It wasn't just a simple gift.

"Nothing bad will happen to you. In this martial world, only those with strength can avoid suffering."

Neng Suomi stammered.

"Are you telling me to become a joint successor of the seniors?"

Han Xuehua chuckled.

Fan Jiewei was equally exasperated.

Chao Ailiang hurried to explain, fearing a misunderstanding.

"We're not passing on our unique martial arts. We're going to teach you a martial art we created together."

'What's the difference?'

Neng Suomi suddenly felt uneasy.

Still, as the head of an information organization, Neng Suomi had a keen ability to analyze given information.

'This is terrible...'

Through the conversation between Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiewei, Neng Suomi realized his situation.

In short, they needed someone to test their newly created internal cultivation technique.

He was speechless with shock.

Neng Suomi felt a dark cloud hanging over his fate.