novelraw Chapter 139 : Chapter 139
Chapter 139 : Chapter 139
Chapter 139. I Was Lucky.
‘This is dangerous.’
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief judged that if there were assassins lurking, it couldn't be more dangerous.
Just as it is said that a master recognizes a master, in the eyes of the greatest thief under heaven, the current situation seemed quite serious.
How skilled must they be for their human-skin masks to be so exquisite that no one but the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief could notice?
‘Amazing. With this level of skill… it might be the Heavenly Killing Sect.’
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, recalling the Heavenly Killing Sect she had only heard of, carefully watched the ones wearing human-skin masks.
Of course, she did not show it on the outside.
Her ability to assassinate targets might be unknown, but when it came to stealth and disguise, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief was a figure who was second to none.
As a result, she was naturally able to be one step ahead of those who were secretly active wearing human-skin masks.
‘When he comes back, I need to talk to him.’
However, as if something had happened, Jin Cheon did not return until late at night.
Thanks to this, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief stayed up all night with her eyes open, but even after dawn broke, there was no news of Jin Cheon.
In her haste, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief asked the passing Baek A-rin about Jin Cheon's whereabouts.
“Miss Baek, by any chance, do you know where the Seventh Young Master is?”
“The Young Master? He's probably at the Demonic Scripture Pavilion, wouldn't you think?”
“The Demonic Scripture Pavilion?”
“It's our cult's martial arts research institution.”
“By any chance, can I meet the Seventh Young Master now? I have something urgent to tell him.”
“Then I'll have a maid accompany you, so please go to the Demonic Scripture Pavilion.”
“Thank you, Miss Baek.”
With the help of the maid Baek A-rin assigned, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief headed to the Demonic Scripture Pavilion.
***
Jin Cheon, who had been sitting cross-legged and circulating his qi, slowly opened his eyes.
“How did it go?”
“It was a success.”
“……!”
“If you circulate your qi according to this incantation, even a demonic practitioner with demonic qi can train their upper dantian and achieve a balance of the three dantians.”
“A-amazing. How did you create such a heart art in just one night…”
Yi Seol was so surprised that she couldn't continue her words.
What Jin Cheon had done was truly tremendous.
Last night.
Jin Cheon had set out to develop a heart art that would allow demonic art practitioners to safely train their upper dantian, referencing the Two Intents Heart Art, the Marrow-Washing True Classic, and the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi.
Of course, he hadn't started with any particular expectations.
Creating a new heart art was a very difficult task, so he had just given it a try on a whim.
But as he worked on it, the incantations flowed more smoothly than he had thought, and Jin Cheon devoted himself to research all night long.
And this was the result.
In just one night, he had created a new heart art that allowed demonic art practitioners to train their upper dantian without going mad.
“I was lucky.”
“Lucky, you say…?”
Yi Seol said, looking incredulous.
Jin Cheon had just created a heart art that would advance the average martial arts level of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult by several stages.
It was no exaggeration to say that this was an achievement that would mark a milestone in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And yet, after creating such a heart art, all he said was that he was lucky…
“It was truly just luck. I also had no idea if this would be possible…”
“No.”
Yi Seol denied Jin Cheon's words.
“Of course, you might have been lucky, but it would have been impossible without your high insight and deep understanding of martial arts, Young Master. In addition, if you didn't know Wudang's Two Intents Heart Art and Shaolin's Marrow-Washing True Classic, you wouldn't have even been able to attempt it.”
“Haha…”
“You are a genius of martial arts, Seventh Young Master. At this point, I have no choice but to admit it.”
“A genius, you say? That's not true at all.”
Jin Cheon could not accept Yi Seol's praise.
‘Me, a genius? A passing dog would laugh.’
It was natural for Jin Cheon to think so.
He believed it was possible because he had been trapped in the Demonic Prison for twenty years researching demonic arts and had also mastered all the martial arts of the righteous faction, not because he was a genius from the start.
In addition to that, hadn't he been born with the Heavenly Demon’s Physique and even seen the Heavenly Demon Scripture containing the enlightenment of the first Heavenly Demon?
“Even modesty is hard to watch when it's excessive.”
Yi Seol frowned as if she couldn't stand it.
“Well, if you can't accept it, Seventh Young Master, I can't help it. That aside, what should we name this heart art.”
“The name of the heart art.”
“Since you created it, Seventh Young Master, it's your role to name it.”
“Hmm.”
After thinking for a moment, Jin Cheon opened his mouth.
“How about naming it the Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art.”
“Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art… a good name.”
Yi Seol smiled faintly.
“I'll have to suggest to the Cult Leader that all the martial artists nurtured in our cult from now on learn both the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi and the Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art that you created, Seventh Young Master. The Cult Leader will be greatly pleased as well.”
“Before that, how about recommending that the elders of the Senate learn this heart art?”
“A good idea.”
Yi Seol expressed her agreement with Jin Cheon's words.
“If the elders learn the Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art, they can achieve a balance of the three dantians and become even more vigorous. In addition, the possibility of them undergoing demonification on their deathbeds will be significantly reduced.”
“It probably will be.”
“Alright. Then, you should report directly to the Cult Leader, Seventh Young Master, and pass on the Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art to the Senate.”
“Yes, I will do so.”
A smile appeared on Jin Cheon's lips.
The weakened state of the elders had been weighing on his mind, but now that he had created the Demonic Spirit Ultimate Seeking Heart Art, he wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.
From now on, the elders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, just like the masters of the prestigious righteous sects who practiced righteous arts, would not experience a decline in their skills even as they aged.
“I'll stop here for today.”
“Alright. You must be tired, so rest well.”
“From tomorrow, I plan to research a way to return those who have undergone demonification to their original forms.”
“But that research is…”
“I know it won't be easy. But I plan to continue researching steadily. Whether it takes ten years or twenty years.”
“Why are you deliberately trying to walk a path of thorns?”
Yi Seol looked at Jin Cheon with an expression of utter incomprehension.
And with good reason; it had long been concluded that it was impossible to return those who had already become demons to their original forms.
“I don't know either. It's just… I want to save them, even if it's just me. Even if they have become demons, in the depths of their hearts, they might be hoping for someone to appear and save them, don't you think?”
“You truly care for our cult, Seventh Young Master.”
“I believe I am just doing what I must as the Seventh Young Master of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Well then, I will see you tomorrow.”
With those words, Jin Cheon turned his steps.
Yi Seol watched Jin Cheon's retreating back and muttered to herself.
“Now I see, your conversion was truly a great fortune for our cult.”
Yi Seol did not even want to dare imagine a history where Jin Cheon had not converted to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
***
“What on earth were you doing to be coming out now?”
As soon as the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief saw Jin Cheon, she rushed at him.
“……?”
Jin Cheon was dumbfounded, but he decided to listen to what the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief had to say first.
“What's with the sudden words? ‘Coming out now’?”
“I have something to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“Can we talk separately for a moment?”
“Sure.”
After moving to a different spot.
“Do you know there are assassins in your house?”
“What are you talking about.”
Jin Cheon frowned as if he were hearing something completely out of the blue.
“As expected, you had no idea.”
“About what.”
“Did you know that there are three guys among the servants walking around wearing human-skin masks?”
“Not at all.”
“Then you must not know that there are several places around your quarters that are perfect for assassins to hide, right?”
“I'm a layman in that area.”
Jin Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
Now and in the past, he had walked only the path of martial arts his entire life. It would be stranger if he knew about assassins.
“I don't know much either, but still, you can't fool my eyes. After all, there are many things that are interconnected.”
“Indeed, that's true.”
Secretly infiltrating to steal something and to kill someone.
The purpose and result were worlds apart, but it was no exaggeration to say that the process was quite similar.
To put it bluntly, if the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief set her mind to killing someone, she would probably be better than most assassins…
“So, you're saying there are assassins lurking in my house?”
“With a high probability. Otherwise, there's no reason for suspicious guys to be secretly active wearing human-skin masks.”
“Hmm.”
After thinking for a moment, Jin Cheon said.
“Indeed. That could be possible.”
“You're not, not angry?”
“Is it something to be angry about?”
“What?”
“It's not strange that someone wants to kill me. There might be a few in our cult, and in the Central Plains, there are more than enough to overflow.”
“That's… true.”
“In any case, it's a relief we found out in advance. Thank you. Thanks to you, I've avoided a crisis. If I had been caught off guard, I could have died.”
Jin Cheon cupped his fist towards the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.
“Then you owe me one life, right? Hohoho!”
“Yes, I won't forget.”
Jin Cheon thought it was a really good decision to have invited the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
If it weren't for her, he would have been ambushed by assassins, and a very dangerous situation could have unfolded.
Of course, since he was always wearing the Nine-headed Dragon Robe, the possibility of dying was very low, but you never know what can happen in life.
“What are you going to do?”
“I'll have to round them all up and interrogate them. Find out who sent them.”
“It won't be easy. Assassins with that level of skill never open their mouths, no matter what.”
“That's the problem.”
Jin Cheon frowned, looking troubled.
He didn't know much about the world of assassins, but he had heard through rumors that their lips were as heavy as a mountain of gold.
In the first place, wasn't it common for them to bite down on a poison pill hidden in their mouths and commit suicide when they were in danger of being captured?
Therefore, extracting information from assassins was by no means an easy task.
“It seems there's no other way.”
“Huh…?”
“If they won't open their mouths, I'll have to open their heads and see.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Literally.”
Jin Cheon gave a chilling smile.
“If they think that not opening their mouths is the only way to keep a secret, they're gravely mistaken.”
“So what on earth does that mean?”
“Our cult has all sorts of wicked and terrifying demonic arts that ordinary people can't even imagine. No matter how much an assassin has trained their patience to the limit, they won't be able to hide information.”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief could not even begin to guess by what means Jin Cheon intended to extract information from the assassins.
She just vaguely thought that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult must have its own secret torture methods.
However, the method Jin Cheon had in mind was not something like physical torture.
‘It seems I'll have to use that method.’
Jin Cheon recalled a technique recorded in the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
It was a technique that the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong, used to extract information from enemies, a truly terrifying and bizarre thing.
So, Jin Cheon didn't want to think about it or use it unless he had to, but the current situation was a different story.
If it was to find the culprit who had commissioned the assassins, there was no reason not to use that technique willingly.