The Double Agent of the Heavenly Demon Sect Chapter 44

The sa hut as before. Yet, amidst the overwhelming silence, Ilma’s familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, there stood a lone maid. As the Blood Demon Unit leader stepped aside, she quietly addressed .

"Blood Demon Unit mber Samsipho. Remove your mask."

"The Blood Demon Unit is forbidden from revealing their faces to others..."

"Remove it."

The sudden shift in atmosphere, freezing the room in an instant, was enough to prove she was no ordinary maid.

She was, without a doubt, soone far stronger than .

I complied for now. She stared intently at my face.

"You have many scars."

"What must I do—"

"There is sothing you must do before asking questions."

She grabbed my sleeve and led with a firm yet expressionless deanor.

"There’s an odor coming from you. Your clothes are shabby. Everything is unsatisfactory."

"Excuse ?"

"Where you’re about to go is Majon—the Demon Hall—where the Heavenly Demon resides. Such rags and stench cannot be permitted to sully that place."

"......!"

It wasn’t just a summons from Ilma—it was a call from the Heavenly Demon.

I nodded, acknowledging the weight of what this ant.

"What must I do?"

"Everything."

We arrived at a place that seed hastily prepared, with a bath and an assortnt of fragrant oils laid out. A set of fresh clothes was neatly folded beside them.

The woman placed her hands on my clothes. I flinched but allowed her to proceed.

"Turn your back to ."

"Is this not embarrassing?"

"This is part of my duty. To mix personal feelings into work would be the height of foolishness."

She ticulously cleaned my body, repeatedly changing the water to remove every trace of dirt.

A pleasant scent began to emanate from my skin, and my tangled hair was completely combed out.

The sensation of my newly grood hair felt strange, as I had always kept it short to avoid interference in martial arts.

It had been a symbol of my rough life.

Now, it felt as though I’d beco so wealthy young master.

"This isn’t the ti for idle thoughts. Put on the clothes."

I followed her instruction. The neatly folded clothes fit perfectly, needing no adjustnts.

My appearance had transford in an instant. But the woman wasn’t done. She stood before once more.

"I will teach you the basic etiquette."

"Even etiquette..."

"In the presence of the Heavenly Demon, no one may violate decorum. I will not stop you if you wish to lose your head."

"...I understand. Please instruct ."

Despite her rigid and sharp tone, she taught with careful precision, taking her ti to guide through every detail. When the half-day lesson was finally over, she exhaled a satisfied sigh.

"Follow ."

A carriage awaited us. Once aboard, the horse galloped across the flat plains and began climbing a steep path.

Though there was a road, the terrain was harsh, almost like scaling a mountain. Yet the horse did not falter or rest.

It was a fine steed—no ordinary animal. And the carriage itself was of such high quality that it seed fit only for esteed guests.

I straightened my posture instinctively, careful not to dirty my surroundings.

The woman sitting across from spoke.

"The place we are about to enter is a secret passage leading to Majon, where the Heavenly Demon resides."

"A secret passage?"

"Only a select few workers affiliated with Majon are aware of its existence. Its depths are imnse, and the path is complex. Do not lose sight of . Should you step into the wrong corridor..."

Her voice turned icy.

"You may wander within forever."

"......."

It was likely ant as a threat to so degree. But her serious expression made it hard to dismiss entirely.

I turned my head to glance outside the carriage. Before long, it stopped before an unidentifiable cave entrance.

The cave seed deep, damp, and filled with an unpleasant odor.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, the woman took up a lantern and led the way.

"From here on, you must not speak."

"Why not?"

"There are so things better left unknown."

"......."

Heeding her warning, I stepped inside, focusing all my attention on not losing sight of the lantern swaying in front of .

How long did we walk? The seemingly endless cave eventually led to a door.

But even then, it wasn’t over. Beyond the door lay a labyrinth of hallways, each more complex than the last.

An oppressive silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of our breathing.

"This way."

This ti, instead of grabbing my sleeve, the woman took my hand.

Guided by her, I took a step forward, and suddenly, the scenery around changed.

From a adow to snowy mountains.

From snowy mountains to a field of blooming flowers.

Each ti I blinked, the landscape transford, as though I were walking through a dream.

"...An illusion array?"

"Shh."

"......."

Silenced once more, I focused solely on the sensation of her hand in mine as we traversed the ever-shifting surroundings.

The woman, seemingly familiar with every twist and turn, led us through the maze with unwavering confidence.

We walked and climbed, walked and climbed. Finally, at the end of countless repetitions, her last step echoed with a resounding tap.

With that, the illusions vanished in an instant.

"...Huh?"

My involuntary exclamation echoed down the barren hallway.

The woman released my hand, as if signaling that we had returned to reality. She whispered softly.

"Go inside."

Before stood a door, adorned with intricate symbols that set it apart from anything ordinary.

The woman pushed it open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond. She took a step back, as if her role had ended, and gestured toward the entrance.

"Proceed."

"Is this where your guidance ends?"

"You will understand once you go inside."

Following her words, I stepped forward. As soon as I fully entered, the door closed behind .

Silence and stillness enveloped once more. Yet amidst it all, a familiar scent reached my nose.

The scent of ma—demonic energy—pressed down on , suffocatingly intense.

She is here.

Within this place...

She is waiting.

"......."

I walked. I kept walking.

Down a narrow path that seed to stretch endlessly. And at the end of it, I pushed open yet another door.

The faint scent of incense brushed against my nose. A room vast beyond comprehension.

As I turned my head, I saw a transparent glass enclosure. Beyond it...

It was water.

".......?"

An unbelievable sight. I gazed beyond the glass.

There were fish. I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but they were undoubtedly fish.

Strange. Isn’t this strange? A wall made entirely of glass—it would surely be fragile, yet it spanned one whole side of the room.

No, more than that—a lake next to a room?

What kind of bizarre harmony is this?

"You seem lost, little mutt."

A voice, filled with laughter, called out. I turned my head.

And there she was, that familiar figure standing before .

"It’s been a while. Hasn’t it?"

Arrogant eyes. Yet a body deserving of such pride. The sa breathtaking, awe-inspiring appearance as before.

I imdiately knelt before her, reciting what I had been taught.

"May the Heavenly Demon reign eternal! Ten thousand demons..."

"Silence."

"...Yes."

I had wanted to demonstrate my manners, but in hindsight...

Even during our first eting, I hadn’t exactly been courteous.

I stood, my heart pounding furiously. But not wanting to let it show, I steadied my breath.

Cheonma Cheon Soso.

She cast her haughty gaze toward the glass wall.

"Isn’t it beautiful?"

"It’s incredible."

"Right? Who else would build a house with just water and glass separating it? Even I was surprised the first ti I saw it."

"Did you build this place, Cult Leader?"

"This is the Heavenly Demon’s sanctuary, passed down through generations. Any Heavenly Demon can visit this part of Majon whenever they wish. And that lake beyond the glass? It isn’t ordinary. Every living thing there is what you’d call a spiritual entity."

"......."

"A living treasure trove of elixirs. Among them are things you won’t find anywhere else. All of it is part of the Heavenly Demon’s treasure, known as the Lake of Chaos Yin and Yang."

The Heavenly Demon turned her gaze to , her eyes narrowing slightly.

"If you’re hungry, I could catch one for you."

"I’m fine, thank you."

"Can you really call yourself a hunting dog if you refuse food from your master?"

"...I will eat it gratefully."

"Good. That’s a good boy."

She walked ahead, leading across the oddly fragrant room to a prepared table of food.

"I didn’t catch or cook it myself, but I hope you’ll enjoy it."

"Thank you for the al."

We ate in relative silence. She didn’t ask anything.

Instead, she spoke as if enjoying the al herself.

"I like this cut of at. When you’re trapped in the mountains, it’s hard to truly savor the taste of fish. Even if a river is nearby, how could it compare to properly cultivated fish?"

"It’s certainly... remarkable in flavor."

"Try this one. Eat more."

"Thank you."

After the al, she handed a cup of tea.

I drank it, but its bitterness was overwhelming. She, on the other hand, sipped it with evident enjoynt.

"It’s a tea that purges toxins from the body. Drinking it can push you to the peak of transcendence, allowing you to fully control your energy."

Transcendence?!

I forced myself to finish it, despite the bitter taste spreading through my entire body. When I grimaced, she chuckled, her shoulders shaking.

"I was joking."

"......"

"That expression of yours is priceless. Ah, is this why people keep dogs? There’s no such tea, you fool."

The Heavenly Demon leisurely tilted her cup, grinning slyly.

"Jeok Woon. My gatekeeper. At least now you’re worthy of being called a martial artist. What have you seen and experienced? Tell everything."

"Where should I begin?"

"Everything you’ve witnessed."

"......."

I opened my mouth and recounted all I had experienced. Though I kept it concise, she shook her head in amusent, as if unsatisfied.

"Summing up years in just a few words—how boring. While I’ve been stuck here, you’ve seen so much. The lives of ants are the most entertaining. They struggle, making things harder than necessary to achieve what I could do effortlessly. Watching it all unfold is the greatest pleasure."

"......."

Knowing her twisted nature, I elaborated on the stories.

I told her about Ilma’s teachings.

"Ilma? Really? She said that to you? That girl, working so hard without taking on a single disciple... Seems she’s finally found so amusent."

I told her about entering Magok.

"Magok, huh? I’ve heard of it. Isn’t it a place tailored to those of much lower skill? Still, at its center is the Master of Magok. When you defeat him soday, be sure to split his belly open and chew on the inner core. Drink his blood, too. It’s all precious Bao Blood."

I told her about the story of Seongjamyeong.

"Hmm. Sounds like the fate of soone without talent. Yet, he ended his life gloriously, igniting a fla through you."

I told her about Isipguho, Baek Mae.

"The disciple of Sama? I’ve heard of her. Seen her too. Her talent is astounding—comparable to the Eight Demons of Heaven and Earth. Even after picking up the sword late, she reached the pinnacle... Sama must be grinning from ear to ear."

I told her about Maengcheon.

"The Black Heaven Blade? A clan I’ve never heard of. But if you praise him so highly, he must have been a decent man. After all, a man’s worth lies in his spirit. I do enjoy those who build themselves up. His blade must have been sharp."

I told her about Bingbaekseol.

"Oh, I’ve heard of that. Ilma reported it to . Said she handled the martial art of The Five Palaces Outside the World on her own. I was a bit surprised; usually, she would’ve brought it to . She’s too attached to her disciples."

I told her about the Sama family and the Talhongeom.

"I heard Sama’s family absorbed the Cheonak Gate. The family’s once-ruined fortunes are rising quickly. The Talhongeom? Of course, I know it. You faced that sword and survived?"

The Heavenly Demon smirked, standing from her seat to approach .

"How far have you mastered Gucheonhyeolmagong?"

"I’ve just entered Paeryeok Mado."

"Really?"

She drew out her words, whispering sothing in an incomprehensible language.

Suddenly, my entire body’s energy twisted violently.

"Urgh...!"

"Stay still. That’s right... Let see. The Thousand Tribulations have fully taken root. It seems to respond to my voice, aning it must find its host quite agreeable. But there’s still resistance. Even trying to refine it would inevitably bring pain."

She pressed firmly on various points of my body.

"Still... your body’s structure is starting to solidify. This might be enough to use it."

"What do you an by it...?"

"First, let ask you sothing, Jeok Woon."

She gently tilted my chin up, her gaze piercing.

"Are you ready to live as my dog?"