Wi Seoryeon looked at Ho Cheon-an, who had fainted, with a dumbfounded expression for a moment.
As she watched Black Cat shake her head and cover her face, Wi Seoryeon realized that even Black Cat was feeling baffled by the current situation.
“Did you know that Ho Cheon-an was practicing such martial arts?”
“No. But he’s still a true senior.”
“…A true Ho Cheon-an?”
Black Cat flipped the unconscious Ho Cheon-an onto his back.
“Kuuhhh…”
Ho Cheon-an, sleeping soundly with his mouth open, completely unaware of the dust. With a sigh at that peaceful face, Black Cat pushed his chin up to close his mouth, then grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him over her shoulder.
“Even if the ground beneath you is shaky, you move forward without hesitation as long as there’s a path ahead.”
Wi Seoryeon felt Black Cat’s words resonate deeply within her.
Because Ho Cheon-an’s current stride was exactly like that.
When the ground is perilous, a person’s steps slow, filled with anxiety and hesitation.
Those who have had a fall are more conscious of the possibility of falling again.
Ho Cheon-an was exactly like that.
“I got pointed out my weaknesses last week.”
In the duel from a week ago, Ho Cheon-an had been relentlessly targeted for his weaknesses and lost without being able to lift a finger.
Therefore, Wi Seoryeon expected that he would work hard to fill that gap.
Wi Seoryeon reflected on herself back then.
Why did I think Ho Cheon-an would fill those weaknesses?
She quickly found the answer.
“I underestimated Ho Cheon-an.”
The distance between you and me cannot be narrowed in a short time.
Regardless of Ho Cheon-an’s potential, Wi Seoryeon had viewed him with that mindset.
Because she felt that way, she thought Ho Cheon-an would take a long-term approach to gradually fill his gaps.
In the immediate term, the gap was so great that he could only admit defeat and plan for the future.
However, Ho Cheon-an made a different choice.
If one step wouldn’t reach, he would throw his body to take two or three steps.
If the power of his condensed Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique was lacking, he would sharpen his spirit on top of it.
“It was an incredibly reckless act.”
No matter how much his strength decreased after he expanded Ilroe, it didn’t mean he couldn’t continue fighting.
It would be tough, but if he held on and persevered, there was still a chance to see an opportunity.
But Ho Cheon-an completely cut off that possibility and focused everything on a single point.
It was a drastic choice that truly went beyond reason.
Yet, that’s why he was able to reach Wi Seoryeon.
“Hah…”
Wi Seoryeon unconsciously let out a laugh.
Black Cat evaluated Ho Cheon-an as someone who, even if the ground beneath him was dangerous, would move forward without hesitation as long as there was a way ahead.
“Haha… Truly so.”
Would trying to fill his weaknesses increase his chances in a duel against Wi Seoryeon?
Wi Seoryeon shook her head at the question to herself.
The option to fill weaknesses may prolong the battle, but it would ultimately lead to defeat.
Ho Cheon-an had a record of losing in direct strength contests against Wi Seoryeon.
No matter how steadily he raised the Ilroe, it would only change the process, and he would inevitably be blocked by Wi Seoryeon’s power.
Therefore, instead of compensating for his weaknesses, Ho Cheon-an chose to strengthen his strengths.
Through heightened concentration, he sharpened the power of Ilroe.
Wi Seoryeon couldn’t help but smile at Ho Cheon-an’s choice.
Wi Seoryeon had lured Ho Cheon-an with the bait of strength. She had tricked him into coming to the Demon Sect under the pretense of making him stronger.
Thus, Wi Seoryeon never thought Ho Cheon-an would genuinely strive to become her match.
Just a subject to use to get stronger.
She intended to be satisfied with that level.
But today, Ho Cheon-an rushed in more sincerely than anyone else to defeat Wi Seoryeon.
Once the surprise and embarrassment wore off, Ho Cheon-an’s actions looked that way.
Black Cat said it was like Ho Cheon-an was naturally such a person, but that didn’t matter much to Wi Seoryeon.
What mattered was the result.
Ho Cheon-an did his best to respond to Wi Seoryeon’s request to become her match, and in the process, he showed unexpected results.
While looking at the unconscious Ho Cheon-an being carried like a sack by Black Cat, Wi Seoryeon felt the fierce beating of her heart.
How would Ho Cheon-an refine his martial arts from now on?
What efforts would he make to become her equal?
“What kind of joy will you bring me this time?”
Although Ho Cheon-an’s figure, disappearing with his mouth open and waving his arms like a jellyfish, couldn’t be called graceful,
to Wi Seoryeon, it didn’t seem so bad.
“After all, it’s a pity to just let you go.”
Wi Seoryeon muttered like that, gazing at the back of Black Cat carrying Ho Cheon-an.
The sight of Black Cat, pleased with having landed a hit, automatically sprang to mind.
Wasn’t there a saying that if you shoot a general, you must first shoot the horse?
In order to keep Ho Cheon-an close, she first had to target his companion, Black Cat.
And the seeds had already been sufficiently planted.
Black Cat was also a martial artist.
Regardless of how much she followed to assist Ho Cheon-an, how could she not feel tempted by the Heavenly Demon Library?
Although Ho Seoryeon had obtained a visitor’s pass with her name stamped on it through a bet, no matter how much Wi Seoryeon’s name was on it, a visitor’s pass is still just that.
With just the tokens Black Cat possessed, she couldn’t freely enter the upper levels of the Heavenly Demon Library.
Ultimately, Black Cat meant that, like any visitor or collaborator, she would need to help with the Demon Sect’s tasks to acquire admission tickets.
Wi Seoryeon looked at Black Cat’s back with conviction.
In the process of obtaining an admission ticket, Black Cat would naturally see and feel the Demon Sect, and eventually, she would find a strong attraction to it.
“Let’s see if you can enjoy the life of the Demon Sect to your heart’s content.”
Wi Seoryeon chuckled as she imagined Black Cat experiencing the Demon Sect.
* *
Heavenly Demon Sect Request Office.
Ak-hwi, the receptionist at the request office, yawned and stretched.
“Please submit your token.”
“Here.”
Ak-hwi inspected the 8th-grade token submitted by the Demon Sect martial artist and, with indifference, flipped through the log before speaking.
“It’s a chief guard position. You’ll probably be accompanying for about two weeks.”
“That’s a bit too long…”
“Otherwise, it’s just carrying luggage or fetching herbs.”
“…Hmm. I’ll take it then.”
As he watched the 8th-grade martial artist leaving with an expression that seemed to dislike the task, Ak-hwi clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. If only I had chosen a good martial arts book this time, I could have aimed for 8th grade.”
The heart of the Demon Sect, the Heavenly Demon Library.
What do you need to do to browse the martial arts books in the Heavenly Demon Library?
The simplest method is to become a martial artist of the Demon Sect and receive a rank. Depending on the rank, one gains entry rights to different levels of the Heavenly Demon Library.
Ak-hwi, a 9th-grade martial artist from the request office, had the authority to browse up to the 9th-grade martial arts books.
So does a 9th-grade martial artist only get to see 9th-grade martial arts books?
Not necessarily.
Even a 9th-grade martial artist could find ways to access 8th and 7th-grade martial arts books.
This was possible by gathering military currency to purchase an admission ticket for higher-grade martial arts books.
“What’s the use in looking at 8th-grade martial arts books that are useless!”
Leaning back in his chair and letting his body slack, Ak-hwi lacked any motivation to work.
A few days ago, he spent the military currency he had saved over a month to browse an 8th-grade martial arts book, but it ended up being completely useless.
“Sigh, but at least it’s better than those collaborators over there.”
Ak-hwi consoled himself while looking at the collaborators searching for various requests in front of the bulletin board.
Collaborators.
A collective term for those who aren’t members of the Heavenly Demon Sect but work for it.
“Collaborators, huh. It’s just a euphemism for voluntary slaves…”
If someone had heard Ak-hwi’s thoughts, they might have frowned, but undoubtedly, no one would refute it.
“I don’t know who the high authorities are, but it’s quite the good thinking.”
Ak-hwi thought as he rested his feet on the footrest.
The Heavenly Demon Sect was a large organization, and naturally, there were many jobs requiring the strength of martial artists.
Among those jobs, there were certainly some that martial artists would hesitate to take.
That’s why the request office gave requests to outsiders who weren’t martial artists.
Using military currency instead of money, they could delegate all sorts of tough jobs to outsiders. What better system could there be?
“If this system didn’t exist, I would’ve been sweating profusely climbing mountains to earn military currency to fight against sea monsters.”
As he stretched his limbs into a yawn, Ak-hwi suddenly noticed that the request office had gone quiet and looked around.
Everyone’s gaze had fixated on one place, so naturally, Ak-hwi’s gaze followed.
And like everyone else, Ak-hwi swallowed hard.
There stood a beauty who looked as if she had just descended from the heavens.
Her body’s curves appeared to be that of an ideal statue, smooth and flowing, with skin that glistened like jade.
Her jawline was sharp yet soft, and her small face boasted exquisite features that elicited continuous admiration.
Undoubtedly, a peerless beauty.
As the beauty slowly turned her head, the swaying of her flowing hair seemed almost unreal.
While lost in admiration, Ak-hwi met the beauty’s gaze and flinched in surprise.
The beauty walked right up to Ak-hwi.
She placed her delicate hand on the desk in front of him. It was a frequent sight to see collaborators placing their hands on the desk in front of Ak-hwi, but for some reason, he felt this situation lacked reality.
While Ak-hwi was still dazed, the beauty’s lips moved.
“I’d like to make a request.”
“…Uh.”
A request?
Ak-hwi snapped back to reality, jolted by the beauty’s stare.
There was no need to stand abruptly to welcome the requester, but Ak-hwi hurriedly flipped through the request book in a fluster until he regained his composure.
“Your token, please.”
The beauty nodded and submitted her token.
Unlike the token that could be obtained by paying a certain amount, this was a visitor’s pass indicating she had been invited by someone.
Ak-hwi picked up the token engraved with the name Black Cat and found it strangely understandable.
“After all, there would be many willing to vouch for that beauty’s identity.”
Though Black Cat and Ak-hwi had just met for the first time, if Black Cat requested a identity verification, Ak-hwi would be willing to jump in feetfirst.
Of course, Ak-hwi, as a mere 9th-grade martial artist, didn’t have the authority to vouch for anyone’s identity.
He flipped the token over to check the name of the verifier.
Wi Seoryeon.
‘….?’
Typically, in front of the verifier’s name, there would be a title, level, or rank noted.
‘Could this possibly be a forged verification?’
Such thoughts flitted through his mind, but he promptly shook his head. Surely such a beauty wouldn’t go to the trouble of faking a visitor’s pass.
‘Wi Seoryeon… Wi Seoryeon… This name seems familiar…’
Could it be.
“S-So…!?”
While Ak-hwi, who was merely a 9th-grade martial artist, struggled to catch his breath at the name of such a lofty verifier, someone approached Black Cat.
“Hahaha! Looking for a request?”
“Seems like you need military currency.”
The surroundings began to stir. Black Cat felt the commotion and stared at the enormous bald man in front of her.
“Buakdo Gwak Hee, right?”
“Isn’t he the one who just reached Peak Stage?”
Buakdo Gwak Hee, basking in the murmurings around him, shouted, “What do you think? If you serve this elder, I’ll give you ten times, no, twenty times the military currency of a measly request!”
“Crazy guy! Stop it!”
Ak-hwi inwardly screamed at Gwak Hee’s behavior, who was gazing at Black Cat with greedy eyes!
How dare he flirt with a guest of the Heavenly Demon, the second-in-command of the Demon Sect!
“Please stop! This person is…”
“What? A mere 9th-grade punk thinks he can——”
Ak-hwi tried to interject, but he was quickly overwhelmed by the bloodthirst emanating from Gwak Hee’s body.
With that terrifying aura pouring out, Ak-hwi’s mouth was forcibly shut.
Feeling the pressure, he regretted butting in.
The Demon Sect operated under the law of the survival of the fittest.
While bullying non-martial artists was strictly prohibited, they had unlimited tolerance for the vicious behavior among martial artists.
No one would care if Gwak Hee punched Ak-hwi for speaking up.
As he witnessed Gwak Hee bully Ak-hwi, Black Cat thought the commotion had been predictable since she had been informed that neither Myeonsado nor Black Rib could be used within the Heavenly Demon Sect.
She closed her eyes for a moment and contemplated.
What would happen if something like this occurred in another region of the Central Plains?
Some fat toad-like brat would be condemned on all sides for bullying a beauty.
But here, in the request office filled with numerous martial artists and people, no one stepped forward to stop Ak-hwi’s behavior.
‘So, this is how the Demon Sect operates.’
Black Cat thought as she began to channel Nine Yin.
Then what would happen if I displayed my status as a ‘stronger’ one?
As her hand naturally reached for Gwak Hee’s blade, Gwak Hee, still glaring at Ak-hwi, flinched and gripped the hilt of his sword.
“Fzzzt!”
At that moment, Black Cat’s energy flowed into Gwak Hee’s sword through her hand.
Gwak Hee, startled by the sudden surge of energy, attempted to draw his sword, but—
“Zing!”
In an instant, not only was Gwak Hee’s sword but even his hand froze.
“Guhhh!”
Caught off guard by the attack, Gwak Hee stumbled backward.
With a pair of bulging eyes, he was forced to step back.
“Wha-What in the world!”
“Power!”
Black Cat’s grasping hands were enveloped in a bright, gleaming energy.
Watching Gwak Hee’s wide-eyed expression, Black Cat thought that while their skills were evidently distinct, it wouldn’t mean that Gwak Hee would easily back down.
As he glared with that menacing look, Black Cat spoke.
“Why don’t you try challenging me…”
“I’m sorry!”
Then, Gwak Hee bowed his head at a perfect right angle.
“….?”
“I didn’t recognize your stature and acted inappropriately!”
With a fierce expression, Gwak Hee awkwardly smiled.
Rather than a smile, it looked more like a glare, but the intention behind it was conveyed to Black Cat.
“Since I did it unknowingly, I hope to receive your mercy.”
“…Alright.”
“Thank you! Fair lady!”
Black Cat stared blankly as she watched Gwak Hee escape like a scared rabbit.
Usually, the scoundrels who flirted with her would often get subdued and retaliate or take offense when their pride was dented.
But Black Cat soon nodded with a subtle expression.
If the Heavenly Demon Sect returned to the principle of the strong, then this was how it should be.
For every bit of oppression towards the weaker, the stronger must bend low.
“Please send in a request.”
“Yes! I will present the best request available!”
By the time Black Cat received a request under Ak-hwi’s guidance and left the request office, not a single person had dared to obstruct her.
Black Cat could guess the reasoning behind it.
‘It must be because I showed my strength.’
Though she only demonstrated her power once, after that, Black Cat did not face any interference, and a strange sensation enveloped her.
If I only have enough power to protect myself.
In this Demon Sect, wouldn’t I not have to worry about appearances?
As such thoughts crossed her mind, Black Cat wore a bitter smile.
Because she recalled Wi Seoryeon, who had confidently mentioned feeling attracted to the Demon Sect.
Although she had thought she had won flippantly, the counterattack was quite fierce.
“It won’t be easy.”
Black Cat muttered as she steeled her resolve and moved forward.
Ho Cheon-an, Black Cat, and Wi Seoryeon.
The true lives of Black Cat and Ho Cheon-an in the Demon Sect were just beginning.
