CDF Chapter 20

Flash!

Lee Cheon-sang opened his eyes.

Thud.

The women who were massaging his shoulders and legs fell with a groan. They had been shocked by the demonic energy that had suddenly burst out from Lee Cheon-sang.

“…Hmm.”

Lee Cheon-sang stared into the void with unfathomable eyes.

After a while.

“The Heavenly Demon Cult is invincible, all demons kneel in submission. The Grand Guardian of the Heavenly Demon Cult receives the Cult Leader’s summons.”

“Grand Guardian.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“When I went into seclusion, did any of the Guardians enter the depths of the Bamboo Forest of Solitude?”

Mu-dam’s eyes slightly widened.

“There was no such incident.”

Lee Cheon-sang’s eyes deepened.

If there had been such an important matter, Mu-dam would have reported it long ago. Moreover, with the skill level of the Guardians, it would have been difficult for them to even enter the middle region, let alone the depths.

‘Then?’

Mu-dam’s puzzlement only grew as he looked at Lee Cheon-sang’s stiff face.

Only after half a moment did Lee Cheon-sang break the silence.

“You said you sent the Third Captain with the Third, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I heard he’s a pretty decent child.”

“Yes. Although he’s young, he’s one of the top ten experts within the Protector Court. He’s talented, experienced, and has an upright character, so I judged that he would be more than capable of assisting the Third Young Master.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

One of the top ten experts in the Protector Court.

It was sufficiently impressive, but to Lee Cheon-sang, he was just one of the mediocre ones.

‘Eight months… Even if he obtained a fortuitous encounter, there would be a limit to his growth. Then what about the Third?’

A hint of interest flashed across Lee Cheon-sang’s usually indifferent face.

“What day is it today?”

“The day before the full moon.”

“The day before…”

“…”

“I see. You may leave.”

“Yes.”

As Mu-dam disappeared, the corners of Lee Cheon-sang’s mouth slightly curled up. It was an extremely faint smile, but if Mu-dam had seen Lee Cheon-sang’s face like that, he would have been surprised again.

“Blinded by greed, heading towards death.”

Swish.

Lee Cheon-sang closed his eyes. At the same time, the women regained their senses.

One would expect them to be flustered after suddenly fainting and regaining consciousness, but they showed no such signs. Rather, as if accustomed to it, they paid their respects to Lee Cheon-sang and resumed massaging his shoulders and legs.

The smile had already disappeared from Lee Cheon-sang’s face.

‘Or will heavenly fortune be bestowed upon him, allowing him to gallop along the ridge of Mount Tai?’

The martial arts and demonic arts that deepened with each passing moment.

The actions of the Third Disciple, Seo Ryang, who was gradually shedding his human form, were giving Lee Cheon-sang a small pleasure.

***

“Damn it! What the hell is going on?!”

Ma Dong-pil couldn’t answer Seo Ryang’s words. He was just as surprised.

Seo Ryang quickly examined the corpse of a demon beast.

A magnificent horse body with tiger stripes. The snow-white head and blood-red tail were bizarre.

It was the Deer Demon. The Deer Demon that Seo Ryang had killed after a fierce battle not long ago lay there, vomiting blood and dead.

‘No scars?’

He looked around.

‘Changbu, Zhu, apes…’

There were also corpses of demon beasts he had never seen before.

It was a leopard, but its body was white. There was a strange pattern on its forehead that was difficult to describe with writing. Its fangs were incredibly long, protruding down to its lower jaw.

Ma Dong-pil groaned.

“Meng Ji (Demonic Panther)?!”

“You know this bastard?”

“Yes, Young Master. I’ve only heard of it, but I’ve never actually seen it. Even my seniors said they’ve never encountered it… To think I would see it like this…”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Ma Dong-pil looked around.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s said that Meng Ji rarely leaves the center of the Bamboo Forest of Solitude. Despite its appearance, it’s said to have a gentle personality and enjoys being alone.”

“So?”

“Still, Meng Ji is said to be one of the top-ranking demon beasts in the Bamboo Forest of Solitude. Aside from one demon beast, it’s said to have the strongest and most demanding spiritual energy.”

“One demon beast?”

“Yes. The name of that demon beast is…”

At that moment, Ma Dong-pil’s body froze.

Next to the entrance of the depths, there was a bamboo that had all its moisture drained and was cracked. And under that withered bamboo, there was a red snake split into two.

Neither large nor small in size. Even though it was dead and lifeless, its eyes were as clear as a human’s.

“…Fei Yi (Winged-Serpent).”

“Fei Yi? That two-headed snake’s name is Fei Yi?”

“That’s right. Of course, I’ve never seen it like Meng Ji.”

“That’s the highest-ranking demon beast in the Bamboo Forest of Solitude? That small thing?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem that strong. It doesn’t even look like a venomous snake. But why is that bamboo withered…”

Suddenly, Seo Ryang’s face became blank.

Ma Dong-pil tilted his head.

“Young Master?”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Is there somewhere you’re feeling unwell…”

“Drought.”

“Pardon?”

“Fei Yi is a snake with two bodies. When that snake appears, a great drought befalls the country. So in a village where there was a flood, they would bury a painting of Fei Yi in the ground. They were hoping for the water to dry up and recede quickly.”

“…?”

Seo Ryang sighed in admiration.

“Damn, I was wondering why these names were so bizarre.”

“What do you mean…”

“The Classic of Mountains and Seas.”

“…?!”

“These bastards are all imaginary monsters from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, aren’t they?”

Ma Dong-pil’s eyes wavered.

“The Classic of Mountains and Seas, that mythological collection by an unknown author…?”

“Unknown author is correct, but a mythological collection… Well, in a way, it is a mythological collection. To be precise, it can be seen as a geographical book, but it’s filled with nonsensical explanations. It’s almost like a scribble of a child’s imagination.”

“I’ve only heard of it, but I’ve never actually…”

“Same for me. I read it once before, but it was such an absurd miscellany that I gave up after flipping through it a few times.”

In the first place, it was difficult for the demons of the Heavenly Demon Cult to access books like the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and they shouldn’t even if they could.

They had gods and scriptures. An outlandish miscellany like the Classic of Mountains and Seas undermined faith and harmed doctrine. And it was the same for other religions.

“But it’s not entirely filled with absurd stories. There are a few records that match actual history and even ancient characters. The famous Queen Mother of the West and Mount Kunlun also appear in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.”

“…I see.”

Seo Ryang scratched his head.

“Still, this seems a bit too much. Even if the Classic of Mountains and Seas is real, it doesn’t make sense for all sorts of monsters to gather in this small bamboo forest…”

Suddenly, Seo Ryang’s eyes widened.

Whoosh.

A chilly wind blew past his face.

Clank.

Seo Ryang, who had slightly drawn his sword with his thumb, stared at the entrance to the depths with tense eyes.

Ma Dong-pil tilted his head.

“Young Master…”

“Shh.”

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Ma Dong-pil followed Seo Ryang’s gaze and looked at the entrance to the depths.

‘Why?’

A chilly wind was blowing, but he didn’t feel any particular unease.

The moment he turned his head back to Seo Ryang…

Zap!

‘Gasp!’

Ma Dong-pil unknowingly lowered his head. He even staggered and stepped back a few paces.

His face had turned pale.

‘What, what is this?!’

Suddenly, his head was spinning, his knees weakened, and goosebumps rose all over his body. His heart was pounding wildly.

He clenched and unclenched his fists several times before slowly raising his head.

‘…!!’

Ma Dong-pil unconsciously swallowed.

He didn’t know how to express this.

Seo Ryang’s face was definitely expressionless. But it didn’t look expressionless at all.

It was as if he was wearing a transparent mask of an evil spirit that didn’t exist in reality. His eyes, neither wide open nor narrowed, were more savage than any gaze he had ever seen.

It was Seo Ryang’s true self, having abandoned his past as the Assassin King but not his identity as a grim reaper.

The face of a beast that didn’t freeze in extreme tension but rather instinctively fanned the killing intent to kill the opponent was there.

“Dong-pil.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

“Stay here.”

Thump thump.

Without even waiting for an answer, Seo Ryang walked into the depths with heavy steps.

Ma Dong-pil wanted to stop him. He wanted to shout that he should go in together.

But unlike before, he couldn’t say a word. Seo Ryang’s words had become a vicious imprint, controlling his words and actions.

Whoosh whoosh.

With each step Seo Ryang took, the crushed bamboo leaves turned to powder and scattered.

Each step was imbued with a powerful demonic energy. The air seemed to heat up just from the unconsciously emitted demonic energy.

Swish!

The cool and dry wind blowing from the depths of the demonic forest and the hot and humid wind generated by Seo Ryang collided, creating an acute tension.

Seo Ryang’s eyebrows trembled.

‘Just what is in there?’

He couldn’t tell. There was no information about it.

‘And what is this terrifying energy mixed in this wind?’

It was tremendous. An energy he had never encountered before.

‘And this sense of unease?’

It was vicious. An ominousness he had never felt even in the desperate battles against the Righteous Faction and the Blood Iron Fortress.

‘This is like…’

Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.

‘Right. It’s similar to that time.’

The first time he met Lee Cheon-sang.

He was shocked by the presence of the demonic god who looked down even on the top ten experts of the world. He had no information or knowledge about such a realm.

He didn’t exude a hint of energy, but he emanated an overwhelming aura. Naturally, he had never encountered such an aura before.

Moreover, the unease Lee Cheon-sang exuded was beyond imagination.

An overwhelming energy that instantly made one think of ‘death’.

Nevertheless, he had no choice but to go to Lee Cheon-sang. For his own purpose, he chose to call him.

It was the same this time.

The wind blowing from that deep place. Despite the tremendous energy mixed in it, no intention could be discerned.

Like Lee Cheon-sang, it was dangerous, but like when he encountered Lee Cheon-sang, the treasure he needed to obtain was there. Seo Ryang could instinctively sense it.

Whoosh!!

His keen senses rang the alarm. His mind’s eye, which simultaneously instilled ominousness and anticipation, looked at the world.

Hiss!

As he went deeper into the depths, the intensifying pressure made his skin tingle.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Seo Ryang’s forehead.

‘No. It’s hard to endure.’

Woong.

He instinctively circulated the Shadow True Demonic Art. The unconsciously emitted demonic energy became even denser.

However.

Boom!

‘Ugh!’

Seo Ryang’s steps halted.

A trickle of blood flowed down from the corner of his mouth. Although he had unleashed a strong demonic energy, he had suffered internal injuries from the recoil.

‘Damn it! Just how strong is the energy that even my current demonic energy can’t handle it?!’

At this rate, he would die from rupture before even approaching.

‘There’s no choice. I have to use it right now.’

Seo Ryang took out the Impurity Cleansing Herbs from his bosom and poured a packet directly into his mouth.

Bubble bubble.

The medicinal effect spread at a tremendous speed.

Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.

Swish swish swish.

The fiercely emitted demonic energy disappeared as if it were a lie.

Whoosh.

The blowing wind seemed to pass right through Seo Ryang’s body.

The Shadow Divine Body of the Shadowless Art unfolded in an instant.

The ultimate concealment technique boasted by the Assassin King, who had reached the pinnacle of assassins of his time, was unleashed.

Seo Ryang closed his eyes.

Rustle.

The bamboo leaves brushed past Seo Ryang’s body.

Even though they clearly brushed past his skin, it felt as if they had passed through. It couldn’t be seen with the eyes, felt with energy perception, heard with sound, or smelled with scent.

It was as if he had literally become a ghost.

‘Let’s go.’

One step, two steps, and three steps.

‘Good. The pressure has faded.’

Ten steps, twenty steps, and thirty steps.

‘If I go like this…’

Suddenly, something caught his foot.

“Huh!”

He almost fell over but managed to maintain his balance. Tripping over something like a rock and nearly falling, it was a disgrace for the Assassin King.

Seo Ryang unconsciously cursed.

“Damn it! What the hell…”

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

“…is this? This cheeky little thing?”