The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 46
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 46
Right, ominous premonitions are never wrong.
I stepped into the sparring match without any preparation, under the pretext that I needed to assess my level first before special training.
My first sparring opponent, one that would be remembered for ages, was Seo-ryeon.
How shameless.
How could they pit a beginner like me against the Divine Wind Witch?
I wanted to unleash a torrent of curses at Eok I-geon, but as always, it remained just a thought.
Even before starting, my spirit was completely crushed.
This was a fight with a predetermined outcome.
How could I possibly defeat the ace of the Yeom-wang Unit?
The only thing I had over Seo-ryeon was my vast inner energy.
I couldn’t even think of attacking and was desperately busy dodging her sword.
I suppose it was fortunate that I had properly learned Masaengbo and Mabang Bicheongang.
Though it was difficult to predict which direction Seo-ryeon’s sword would come from, I could at least dodge just before it touched my body.
They couldn’t have taught me this just to run around.
I had to keep glancing at Eok I-geon while dodging Seo-ryeon’s sword, worried he might shout in anger.
By the way, this sister is scary as hell!
Even though I’m supposedly her superior whom she serves, why is she attacking so desperately?
If it weren’t for my natural quick reflexes kicking in during every crisis, I would have nearly died dozens of times.
Even though it wasn’t a real sword, Seo-ryeon’s attacks were incredibly fast and fierce enough to feel murderous intent. The title Divine Wind Witch wasn’t given for nothing.
“Stop!”
At Eok I-geon’s shout, Seo-ryeon immediately withdrew her sword.
How many laps around the training grounds did I run?
The dirt ground was completely covered with mine and Seo-ryeon’s footprints.
I was so busy running away that I barely registered where I had moved from and to.
It was a miserable defeat.
Completely crushed.
“Not as bad as expected.”
…Huh?
“At that level, she won’t suffer major injuries no matter who she faces. Right?”
“Yes. Junior Seo-ryeon’s Five Element Demon Sword is among the fastest in school. Though there were some close calls, it doesn’t seem to be a major concern.”
“Seo-ryeon, what do you think?”
“I agree with Senior Cheon-gang. Honestly, I thought I’d land at least three or four attacks, but I was quite surprised by the strange movements she used each time.”
“That is Mabang Bicheongang. The Sichuan trip became good study material for Seolha. Very impressive.”
What, am I being praised right now?
Saying I did well?
Since all I did was frantically dodge swords, I was genuinely dumbfounded.
“According to custom, Lady Seolha will compete starting from the quarterfinals as Cheonma’s disciple. Among this year’s quarterfinal candidates, none wield a swift sword faster than Junior Seo-ryeon.”
“Then you’ll have to be the next opponent, Cheon-gang.”
“I’ll go with a heavy approach.”
Having finished his conversation with Eok I-geon, Cheon-gang picked up a wooden sword and walked toward me.
“Lady Seolha, this time you must not dodge but block everything. Think of it as training to receive sword strikes.”
“…What if I can’t block them?”
Why do you think I’ve been running around the training grounds all this time?
I would have blocked if I could.
“Please trust me. You will absolutely not get hurt.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
Right, if I can’t trust my favorite’s words, whose can I trust?
‘Though I can’t trust Eok I-geon.’
Cheon-gang was absolutely not the type to speak carelessly.
Then he would only attack with intensity I could handle.
Just dodging everything wasn’t the answer.
To win in the end, I had to corner my opponent to the limit and force their surrender.
Though I lacked confidence, I readjusted my grip on the sword and waited for Cheon-gang.
Hiyah!
He leaped high into the air.
Not fast but not slow either – truly textbook movement.
Clang!
My sword and Cheon-gang’s clashed.
Ugh!
Why is this so heavy!
I almost dropped my sword.
‘Ah!’
Sharp pain spread from my wrist through my arm to my shoulder.
If I hadn’t immediately protected myself with inner energy, my bones might have broken.
You said you’d go easy and then do this!
I felt betrayed and wanted to say something, but didn’t have the chance.
Clang!
Regardless of the shock I received, Cheon-gang continued swinging his sword.
The pressure was no joke.
I increasingly concentrated my inner power into my right arm holding the sword.
I had plenty of inner energy to spare anyway.
Fortunately, instead of using complex techniques, Cheon-gang focused on putting weight behind his sword.
Thanks to this, I could increasingly parry his sword more easily.
Crack!
Then disaster struck.
Whether from injecting too much inner energy or being unable to withstand the opponent’s weight, my wooden sword suddenly shattered into pieces.
Sharp wooden fragments couldn’t overcome the momentum and scattered in all directions.
Panicked, I fumbled not knowing what to do, while Cheon-gang quickly spun his body, creating wind force to block the wooden pieces.
Whoosh!
That’s when a massive wind swept past me.
Once, then once more.
I could tell without looking.
This must be Eok I-geon’s work.
Him saving me wasn’t particularly surprising anymore.
Eok I-geon was a strange existence who was scary to be with, yet somehow reassuring at the same time.
But why does he have that expression?
He was glaring somewhere with an extremely annoyed face.
That guy’s temperament, really.
I want to see him favorably but just can’t.
What caught my eye as I naturally followed Eok I-geon’s gaze was, unexpectedly, Cheonma.
The damn old man who arbitrarily decided my fate last night had finally come to see me.
“We greet Cheonma!”
Though I grumbled inwardly, my servile body automatically dropped to its knees and bowed to him.
Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon did the same.
Only his son Eok I-geon lightly nodded as a courtesy.
“Am I still Cheonma to you?”
Cheonma approached me with a deliberately angry voice and asked.
I immediately realized what he wanted.
“…I greet you, Master, no, Teacher.”
“I prefer the sound of Master over Teacher.”
“…Yes, Master.”
It’s not a difficult thing, so I should do it for him.
“I hear you’re entering the martial arts tournament?”
“That’s what has been decided.”
Cheonma’s gaze, which had been scanning me, Cheon-gang, and Seo-ryeon, finally stopped on his son, Eok I-geon.
“What’s your goal?”
“Victory, of course.”
“Are you confident?”
“Seolha can do it.”
How many times do I, the person in question, have to say no!
If I go out there, it’s guaranteed humiliation, so can’t we cancel it even now?
I gazed at Cheonma wistfully, hoping he would please cancel it.
But I failed spectacularly at diverting his attention.
“I hear Doe is participating.”
“…!”
At Cheonma’s statement, not only Eok I-geon but also Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon all looked surprised.
Doe, Doe…
I think I’ve heard that name before, but who was it?
Since I can’t remember immediately, he’s probably not a major character, but the name isn’t unfamiliar.
Doe.
I was continuing to repeat the name in my mind.
Ah, that bastard!
A scene from the novel flashed through my head like lightning.
Doe, the vice-leader of Salgwidan, whose main job was assassination.
He was originally a demon who had gained notoriety in Shaanxi.
He was a typical case of someone who fled to the Demonic Sect after being branded a public enemy of the martial arts world for raping dozens of women and brutally murdering civilians.
But as they say, old habits die hard, and his evil deeds didn’t stop even in the Demonic Sect.
The first few times he managed to avoid getting caught, but if you leave a long tail, you’ll eventually be caught.
Eventually, Doe’s crimes were exposed in detail, leading to a situation where he had to flee.
I know quite a few sect members died then.
Since being caught would mean inevitable destruction of his danjeon and imprisonment, Doe was desperate.
He managed to successfully hide for over twenty days.
Of course, he was eventually found as a corpse.
The peculiar thing was that he was found naked with all his clothes stripped off, and his private parts were brutally mangled.
Additionally, since the one who killed him never appeared, the headquarters couldn’t even issue a reward.
Later, when Eok I-geon became the sect leader and a similar incident occurred, only the readers learned that it was actually Eok I-geon who had punished Doe.
But that crazy bastard is entering the martial arts tournament?
Even though he hasn’t become the vice-leader of Salgwidan yet, his skills would be similar.
Doe was a human who starkly demonstrated that character and ability are inversely proportional.
Could I possibly beat that guy?
“Our lovely disciple’s eyes are full of worry.”
Cheonma’s way of addressing me suddenly became strange.
Lovely disciple?
Is it just my imagination that both his tone and gaze seem creepy?
“Do you know why your master came to see you today?”
“I do not know.”
“From now on, I intend to pass down all of Mahu’s martial arts to you. Are you ready to become the second Mahu?”
“…Me?”
Why does everyone have such high expectations of me?
What will they do if they end up disappointed?
“From now on, you will be praised as the strongest woman in the history of the Demonic Sect. Just trust this master and follow along well. Do you understand?”
“…Yes.”
Now I don’t know anymore either.
If I just do as I’m told, things will work out somehow.
Whatever happens, it won’t be a loss, so I decided to wholeheartedly commit to learning as Cheonma’s disciple.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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