"Boy... Did you do this?" A sleek-looking fellow with yellow-colored hair and a pair of glasses in his eyes entered, asking.
"Impressive," he added. "I knew these bunch of filth weren't worth anything."
I looked at him as he stepped over the bodies. Should I make a move? He reeked of demonic energy that's on the level of a second-rate martial. I could feel my hands tremble.
Ha. How pathetic. That I, Baek Jo-Pil, would be panicking at the sight of a mere second-rate demonic practitioner. I guess it's a result of this body. Snap out of it. I clenched my fists tightly.
"Demonic practitioner." The words left my mouth unintentionally before I could block it.
"Oh?" He looked at me, kicking one of the bodies from his way as he approached. He must've heard me.
"Aren't you quite the perceptive lad?" he added. "Excellent perception and strong. You're a smart kid," he added, chuckling.
I held the sword in a stance and replied, "What's filth like you doing in a place like this?" Well, it was also a filthy place, but there starts the conversation. I'd used a bit of qi trying to make this cleanup fast and even though the recovery state of my cultivation was fast, it hadn't gotten used to this body. If I could get my hands on even a decade-old ginseng right now...
"Boy," he responded. "Do you have a problem with demonic practitioners?" he added. "Didn't your parents teach you not to talk rudely to people?"
He bent down to the body of one of the corpses—a man with the most energy among the men I'd slain—took a knife, tore the skin off the man and, using his bare hands, removed the heart. Using a technique, he drained the energy off the heart and took a deep sigh.
"Can't let that go to waste," he added.
What in Dharma's name was that? Some demonic drain technique? That looked so crude compared to the techniques from the Demonic Sect.
He turned to face me with a sinister laugh.
"I guess you don't have parents," he added, chuckling. "Some other demonic practitioner take them off the world?" He made this funny face mocking me as he added, "How sad..." in a voice that seemed to cry as he wiped his eyes, sniffing and giggling.
He looked up after.
"Are you sad?" he added. "Do you want strength to kill them? Don't you want revenge?"
He stretched a hand forward towards me and placed one on his chest.
"Come, poor soul. Let I, Ostavio Faren, bring you to the Divine Light."
Pffttt. I let out a laugh unconsciously.
"What?" He looked surprised.
"What's funny, boy?" he added. He was getting pissed.
What's not funny?
Some random-ass, second-rate demonic practitioner who's obviously out of his mind in so many ways is offering me strength? How audacious.
"You're so funny, and pathetic. I feel sorry for you," I replied.
"'Do you want strength to kill them,'" I added, mimicking the way he said it. "Divine light, my ass," I added.
Immediately I said that, I could feel his energy rise in rage.
"Fireball," he muttered.
I could feel the energy around him shift and expand into something and bang—fire—rushing towards me like some arrow.
Using the Murong family Ghost Steps, I quickly twisted my body and managed to dodge. That was fast. And dangerous.
Sorcery? No. Was that magic? Is he one of those magicians?
Magic. It was a fascinating sight. It seemed so much like Qi but in another way. If my cultivated Qi was the Emperor, this 'magic' was like court officials.
How interesting. Another way to use Qi.
It seems like those fire techniques of the Fire King in Murim, Pang Ko-Han.
"How dare you?!" he shouted at the top of his voice.
"How dare you talk shit of the Divine Light?" he added.
He was trembling. Shaking like he was going to have a bad seizure.
"I gave you a chance," he said while still trembling and moving towards me. I could feel the energy shifting and expanding again. Fascinating.
No. This wasn't the time to be fascinated.
"Oh Divine Light, grant this pitiful unbeliever your divine grace. Share with him your divine mercy," he started muttering in prayer.
"Rain of Fire," he added and immediately a rain of fire arrows shot towards me.
Fuck.
I managed to dodge some of it with my Qigong technique. Some of them hit me, leaving painful bruises that stung. I had to finish this immediately. This is getting dangerous.
I launched towards him with my Heavenly Steps technique. A technique I'd developed and was renowned as the best Qigong in Murim.
He continued raining the fire arrows at me as he shouted,
"Die! Die!! Die!!! You heathen!"
Even with my Qigong, I could only cut some of the fireballs and evade them.
Of course, what did I expect? I haven't even learnt them with this body. It's a miracle I can even perform them to this stage with a body untrained. The body cleanse must've helped a lot more than I thought.
I need to end this immediately.
I stood. Took a stance, even with the fire hitting me.
Ha. When will I get my invulnerable body physique back?
"Ha... Haha... Hahahaha..." he stopped briefly.
"Are you tired, little mouse?" he added, laughing.
"Have you decided to receive the salvation of Divine Light?" he added.
"Divine Light..." I replied.
I could see the look in his eyes. Amusement. Thinking I was giving in.
How disgusting.
"Such bullshit," I added, smirking.
"Ha???" he replied, dumbfounded and surprised.
"This little fucker needs to die," he added as he prepared to fire another round of his spells.
No, you don't.
I condensed my Qi into my sword. It was already breaking down from the many work. Well, here goes.
Coupled with my Qigong, Heavenly General's Technique, First Sword: Earth Split.
I moved so fast towards him before he finished with his spell and sliced his arm off.
"Ah!!!!" he shouted, falling down.
I doubled back with strength before the sword completely fell apart and swiped the other arm off.
"Ahh!!! My arms!" he shouted, blood gushing from both arms. He looked at me sobbing. Terrified.
I stood over him, observing him as he tried to use his magic to heal himself.
"Heal... Heal... Heal... God dammit!!!" Like a chicken, he beat around and struggled.
I bent to him. Used my hands to bring his face to look at me.
"How's that for the saving grace of Divine Light?" I said, smiles forming on my face. I wanted to burst into laughter. I wanted to see his despair.
But now wasn't the time to enjoy such a thing.
To think that I'd struggle against a second-rate.
"You... You monster," he replied as he spat on my face.
Monster? Yeah. I never thought I'd miss hearing that word. Hearing it from people like him has always been joy to my ears.
There was some time when it hurt, but the pain of war and fighting made it a fine word from my enemies.
Yes. That's who I was. Baek Jo-Pil.
A monster to those who try to harm me.
And now, as Theodore, I will be no less of the monster I once was to my enemies.
Haha.
"I'm going to ask a few questions." I looked into his eyes, filled with anger, fear, and the look of death.
"Ha... Haha..." he started laughing.
What?
"I guess this is it," he added. "For Divine Light."
Before I could figure it out, he broke a molar and killed himself.
Shit. Poison? I never expected this. It was common amongst assassins in Murim. I never expected it in this world.
I guess I shouldn't look at it any differently.
As I stood above his body confused, I recalled a technique I'd seen once when I read through the Demonic scriptures.
I'd need demonic energy for this though. Lots of it. And I'd only trained my righteous qi until now.
My foundation was established from the little demonic energy that was in nature, but I needed a big boost right now.
Ah. What better method than the Demonic Drain of the Cult.
There were side effects to this technique when most demonic practitioners used it, but I'd found the exclusive Demonic Drain of the Sect Leader.
Aren't I a hypocrite? Ha.
I went ahead and took the demonic energy from the mage. Sat a bit and balanced it with my righteous qi. I could feel the synergy between the two qi. Like they'd become one.
I could feel the rise in power. I became first-rate immediately they were in sync.
Now, for the next step. A memory reading technique of the Demonic Sect. It only works on people that have been recently killed or people still alive, but it leaves them dumb after.
How interesting. Fascinating.
I could see everything he's ever experienced in his life. His magic techniques. His past. Everything, laid bare.
Cult of Divine Light, huh? This fool was not even an official member of the cult. He'd been recruited not long ago and made a Third Circle mage after being stuck in the First Circle all his life.
How pathetic.
I went towards Garrick, who still lay asleep despite all the commotion. He must've been so scared.
Well, he pissed himself. The pathetic oaf.
I read through his memories too. All his dealings. The people he's met and interacted with.
Baron Sylvia? So the rumors were true. Hoho. This is interesting.
Bingo. The location of the safe.
What? An elixir? How nice—
With my heightened senses, I could already hear horse galloping towards this place. Kevin and Edmund must've done their jobs right. I should take these before the soldiers get here.
I took a bag and swiped everything off the safe. The elixir and all the gold and cash. This was a good loot.
I looked at Garrick. He's going to be in a pathetic state. I moved towards him, broke his legs. Good.
I looked at all the corpses laying around. A shame. The men that had harassed Kevin and Edmund weren't among them.
According to Garrick's memories, I should be able to find them. That will be a little exercise for the night.
A good hunt.
No time to waste here anymore. Better dip before the soldiers show up.
Farewell, Garrick. Good riddance.
You will not be missed.