Chapter 415: Chapter 415

Baek Suryong's past life memories flowed by in a rush. Number 27 visited the masters in the prison every day to learn martial arts and plot their escape from the Blood Cult.

He could only watch as the memories streamed past. He tried moving his body at first, but soon realized it was impossible. As he pondered why, he reached a single conclusion.

Is it because of the Blood Demon's Finger?

Last time he entered this place, he had used only the incantations from his past self's diary, but this time was different. He had circulated the Heaven Defying Divine Art while simultaneously absorbing the Blood Demon's Finger and the Poison Essence.

The Poison Essence only mended his constitution and didn't affect the Heaven Defying Divine Art. However, the Blood Demon's Finger was different. If the dead Blood Demon's lingering thoughts remained in the finger, couldn't they also affect this space? It was just a hypothesis, but he couldn't think of any other reason.

In that case, the Blood Demon might appear.

Baek Suryong decided to wait calmly. Fortunately, time flowed differently here than in reality outside. Just as Moon Yul had lived a hundred years with Master Eun in a single night's dream, this too was a long dream created from his past life's memories.

Besides, he enjoyed seeing his masters' faces again after such a long time.

"You scrawny brat! That's not how you do it!"

As Number 27 improved their physical conditions as promised, the masters' attitudes softened, starting with Maeng Ho'ak.

"You can't just use brute strength. You have to be smooth yet flexible! Look at this, this, and this. That's how you do it!" Despite the chains covering his body, Maeng Ho'ak demonstrated the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest, then berated his disciple, "Why can't you do something so easy?"

"Good grief..." Number 27 rolled his eyes at Maeng Ho'ak. This old man's teaching method was no different from demonstrating something once and saying, "You just do it roughly . See? It's easy, right?"

"Master Maeng, don't even think about teaching anyone after you get out of here. You have absolutely no talent for it."

"Aren't you learning quite well, though?"

"That's because I'm a genius."

"Hah! You annoying brat."

Soon, half a year passed with the masters. Among the four masters, Number 27 had grown close to Master Maeng the fastest. They were now at a point where they would occasionally share personal stories.

Master Maeng clicked his tongue after learning of his disciple's situation. "Anyway, about when we escape from here. We'll have nothing to fear once we recover our martial arts, but will you be able to with a body that has no inner qi? Well, if you stick close behind me, you won't die. I'll wipe out anyone who stands in our way."

He meant that a great battle would surely break out when they tried to escape the Blood Cult.

Currently, Number 27 hadn't yet learned the Heaven Defying Divine Art, so there was not a single speck of inner qi in his ruined qi center. No matter how many ultimate martial arts he learned, if he couldn't use inner arts, it was all just half-measures.

Baek Suryong searched through his old memories to recall exactly when he had found the Heaven Defying Divine Art. I think that event will happen soon.

Anyway, although Number 27 knew that Master Maeng had said it out of concern, the words wounded his pride at the time. "I can protect myself, so there's no need for you to worry about such things, Master Maeng."

"Hah! Look at this brat's attitude after I went out of my way to worry about him. When we get out of here, I'll have to check just how thick your skull is." Master Maeng laughed heartily while making what sounded like a threat, but this was just his way of cracking a joke.

In truth, he was quite fond of the disciple he had gained in his later years.

"Kid, where do you plan on going after you escape from here?"

"I don't know. Anywhere is better than the Blood Cult."

"How about coming with me to the Viridian Forest?"

It was an unexpected offer, but at the time, Number 27 had considered it quite seriously. Since he was an orphan with no connections outside of the Blood Cult, he reasoned that Master Maeng's offer wasn't so bad.

If I had followed Master Maeng and become a bandit of the Viridian Forest... I might have liked that lifestyle.

Baek Suryong watched the two of them converse and let out a small laugh. If he had escaped the Blood Cult and followed Master Maeng, he might have settled down in a cozy mountain keep and lived by collecting tolls from passing merchants.

"I'll show you one more time, so watch carefully. Again, from the part you got wrong..."

"It's my turn now," Master Crazy Demon chimed in, rising to his feet.

Master Maeng smacked his lips in disappointment and retreated deeper into the prison. "Is it that time already? I haven't even warmed up yet."

Unlike the constantly chatty Maeng Ho'ak, Hyonwon Hu rarely spoke outside of teaching martial arts. Rather, Master Maeng was the unusual one. Even after more than half a year, Number 27 hadn't grown close to any of the other masters.

I didn't feel the need to get close to them, either.

Although they taught and learned martial arts from each other, they didn't really consider themselves master and disciple. Their relationship was merely transactional, born from mutual necessity. Without the simple and cheerful Master Maeng, the prison atmosphere would have been even more desolate.

"Tsk, tsk. Does acting all serious change anything? Do you think someone's going to ask about your tragic backstory if you just sit there with your mouth shut, looking like you've got one?" Master Maeng complained, expressing his displeasure with the other masters. He especially picked fights with the Crazy Demon, who seemed the most approachable of the three.

"That guy's the best at acting stern, which doesn't suit his alias at all. I heard he was once the young master of some noble family..."

Hyonwon Hu shot him a terrifying glare. "Shut up if you don't want to die."

Master Maeng only snorted in response.

The Sword Saint and the Ice Moon Goddess didn't join the conversation. Eun Yerin spent most of the day gazing into the distance wistfully, while the Sword Saint would stare blankly, lost in thought, before suddenly bringing up his son out of nowhere.

Number 27 wasn't curious about their pasts. He simply told them what he needed from them.

"Master Ice Moon Goddess, teach me the White Ice Divine Art."

"Master Sword Saint, teach me the Unlimited Sword."

As per the deal, the two didn't refuse, and Number 27 thought that was enough. Even while spending most of the day together in the prison, he showed no interest in the masters' personal lives.

"Then I'll be back tomorrow."

"Bring lots of meat side dishes tomorrow!"

Even as he closed the door and left, he never once looked back.

A year passed like that before the Demonic Strategist summoned him.

"How are they these days?"

Every ten days, Number 27 submitted a written report to the Demonic Strategist. This was the first time in over a year that he had been summoned in person.

Number 27 prostrated himself before the Demonic Strategist, doing his best to hide his nervousness. "They are still difficult to deal with, but I am slowly winning them over and learning their martial arts."

The Demonic Strategist looked down at Number 27 from his seat and smiled mysteriously. "I read every report you submit. Your skills are quite impressive, just as you boasted. Everyone else has failed at this until now, yet you are making progress little by little. That's why I called you here to give you a reward."

"I am undeserving of your praise. I am merely doing my best for the glory of our Cult." Number 27 bowed his head. To anyone watching, he looked like a loyal martial artist of the Blood Cult.

The Demonic Strategist nodded, seemingly pleased. "I will acknowledge your loyalty, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a reward. Is there anything you desire?"

Number 27 hesitated for a moment before replying, "Elder, it is necessary to improve their condition. Please loosen their chains and allow them some miracle herbs."

The Demonic Strategist furrowed his brow. "Hmm... Even though their fangs have been pulled out, they are still ferocious beasts. If you help them recover too hastily, you might get bitten."

"Their martial arts are all ultimate techniques. Given their current physical condition, it's impossible for them to demonstrate their techniques fully. I am monitoring them closely, so please trust me," Number 27 pleaded.

After a moment of thought, the Demonic Strategist nodded. "Very well. I will order their restraints loosened slightly. As for the miracle herbs, I will inform the Medicine Hall, and you may take whatever you deem appropriate."

"Thank you, Elder," Number 27 answered calmly, but inwardly he was cheering. With the reward he had just been given, he could speed up the escape plan.

That said, the Demonic Strategist hadn't yet revealed the real reason he had summoned him.

"There is one more thing I must tell you."

"Please state your command."

"Soon, several children will be selected to learn the masters' martial arts."

"Pardon?" Startled, Number 27 forgot his manners, raised his head, and stared straight at the Demonic Strategist.

Fortunately, the Demonic Strategist didn't reprimand him. Instead, he smiled curiously. "Are you surprised?"

"I've heard that you're the best martial arts instructor in our Cult. They say that most of the rising masters who are currently making a name for themselves were taught by you. And that they all want to kill you if they get the chance?"

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Chuckling, the Demonic Strategist rose from his seat and walked toward Number 27. "I'll give you a chance to prove your abilities. Teach the martial arts you learned in prison to the children."

"But I've only learned the basics so far..."

"Think of it as an experiment. What if they teach you a flawed martial art? You can't learn them because of your damaged qi center, but someone has to try to verify it, don't you agree?"

"......" Number 27's expression hardened. Fuck, so he doesn't trust me even this much.

"If they deceived you and taught you fake martial arts..." The Demonic Strategist reached out and placed a hand on Number 27's shoulder. "I think it would be better to dispose of them. What do you think?"

Number 27 shivered at the chilling sensation he felt from the hand that had mastered the Black Death Claws. "If they have deceived me, I will kill them myself," he whispered.

Satisfied with the response, the Demonic Strategist laughed heartily and patted Number 27 on the shoulder. "I will select the most promising children from among those who have not yet learned demonic arts and send them to you. From now on, you are to devote yourself to teaching them."

Number 27 desperately racked his brain. He had thought the Blood Cult would first record the four masters' martial arts in manuals and start teaching them to people in a few years. Now, however, he could no longer deceive them with vague promises.

Suddenly, the Demonic Strategist's attendant rushed in. "Elder! The Cult Leader is coming here!"

A moment later, the Cult Leader arrived at the Demonic Strategist's residence, accompanied by his bodyguards.

The Demonic Strategist immediately dropped to one knee. "Hail the Blood Demon, to whom all demons submit! This humble servant greets the Supreme Lord!"

Number 27 prostrated himself behind the Demonic Strategist and repeated the chant. He didn't even dare to lift his head, pressing his forehead to the floor.

"Raise your head," a man commanded in a captivating, languid voice that one could never forget after hearing it once.

Number 27 remained still, not thinking those words were directed at him.

"Did you not hear the Cult Leader?! Raise your head!" the Blood Dragon Captain roared.

Only then did Number 27 finally raise his head. For the first time since losing his qi center and being demoted from the Blood Dragons, he faced the Blood Demon.

"Come closer," the Blood Demon said.

As always, he had an unrealistically beautiful face and an unrivaled presence. A heat haze shimmered around him, as if he existed in a different dimension all by himself.

Number 27 approached him on his knees, as if possessed. "Cult Leader..."

The Blood Demon reached out a finger and gently lifted Number 27's chin. "At last, we meet again."

The moment their eyes met, the Blood Demon's crimson, jewel-like eyes shone ominously, as if he could see through everything.