The Demon with Holy Radiance Chapter 47

Led by his Second Senior Brother, Fu Ming, Yang An followed silently behind him, moving through the labyrinthine paths while constantly observing his surroundings.

’I should try my best to memorize the layout of this place,’ he thought. ’That way, if something unexpected happens, I can use my familiarity with the area to escape danger.’

But even so, Yang An couldn’t help but feel emotional as they passed one desolate building after another.

This place was like a ghost town, completely devoid of life. It was no wonder there wasn’t a single normal person here.

A normal person would probably fall into depression just by staying here.

Fu Ming coughed violently again, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as he walked. It seemed to be of no great concern to him, as if nothing was wrong.

After walking a bit further, he finally stopped and pointed to a relatively intact courtyard ahead of them.

"This can be your residence, Junior Brother. If you’re not satisfied, we can keep looking."

Yang An stopped as well and glanced at the building before him.

It was a courtyard that looked relatively complete, with no dilapidated areas. The interior was also quite clean, obviously having been tidied up by someone.

However, the quality of the environment wasn’t what was important. Yang An valued privacy and safety more.

This location was more or less in the center of the entire Life Crane Sect, which didn’t suit his preferences.

’In a place like this, I wouldn’t even have time to run if something happened. What good is a nice environment then?’

Shaking his head, he offered Fu Ming an apologetic smile.

"Second Senior Brother, I prefer to be alone. Could you help me find a more remote place?"

Fu Ming glanced at him, covered his mouth as if to cough but didn’t, and then nodded.

Eventually, the two arrived at a location near the edge of Corpse Saliva Valley, where Fu Ming found another well-preserved dwelling for Yang An.

"This is the place. Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Yang An immediately expressed his satisfaction. A straight path led directly from this spot to the outskirts of Corpse Saliva Valley, the end of which was visible at a glance.

’A great spot!’

Now that Yang An had chosen his residence within the Life Crane Sect, Fu Ming quickly summoned several Corpse Slaves.

The Corpse Slaves were all dressed in clean, tidy clothes, each one different from the next. It seemed someone had specifically dressed them up.

But their movements were extremely stiff and awkward. Their skin was pale and bloodless, and their eyes had turned a grayish-white, with no pupils.

It was for this reason that Yang An could tell at a glance that these were corpses that had been dead for a long time, yet still possessed intact flesh. The sight truly startled him.

"The Corpse Slaves in the sect are all the handiwork of your Eighth Senior Brother. He loves studying corpses in his spare time. Most of these were once complete bodies luckily recovered from those who died in battle in Corpse Saliva Valley. You can just treat them like ordinary puppets, Junior Brother.

"I’ll leave these few Corpse Slaves with you for your daily needs. Feel free to command them to do anything you require."

Fu Ming explained.

Yang An forced a smile, but he accepted his Second Senior Brother’s kind offer. In his heart, however, he couldn’t help but feel curious about this so-called Eighth Senior Brother.

’Another weirdo,’ he thought. ’And from the looks of it, he’s a "figurine" enthusiast who likes to dress up Corpse Slaves. What kind of strange hobby is that...’

After coming here, he felt more and more out of place, like a simple little lamb.

’What should I do? Should I try to fit in with them, and become as twisted as they are?’

Although the Corpse Slaves’ movements were very uncoordinated, they worked quite quickly. In just a short while, they had cleaned the inside and outside of Yang An’s chosen residence completely.

"Junior Brother, you can move about freely within Corpse Saliva Valley, but there are two places you must never enter without permission."

After telling the idle Corpse Slaves to fetch some daily necessities, Fu Ming led Yang An into the residence and spoke to him.

"Please tell me, Senior Brother."

Yang An listened very attentively. He knew he had to pay close attention to what Fu Ming was saying, for fear of accidentally breaking some taboo.

"The first is the Master’s residence. You must absolutely not go near it unless you have the Master’s permission or have been summoned by him.

"The second is an ancestral hall to the southeast in the valley. It enshrines the Master’s former sect-mates and old acquaintances. You must not go near it either."

Fu Ming’s tone had been nonchalant the whole time, but it became slightly more solemn when he spoke of this matter.

Yang An could understand why he couldn’t approach the first location.

’But the second place is just an ancestral hall. Why can’t I go near that?’

Yang An was very confused.

Fu Ming seemed to guess what he was thinking and explained,

"These are the rules set by the Master. You must never defy them!"

’Got it! In short, if the Master says don’t go in, then don’t go in.’ Yang An understood and didn’t ask any more questions.

"Additionally, our Life Crane Sect has many smaller sects and some Mortal Influences under its command. People from these powers often come to ask for our help with certain matters.

"For example, to eliminate Demon Fiends that have appeared in their territory, or to resolve disputes between sects.

"In the Life Crane Sect, aside from our daily cultivation, these miscellaneous tasks are also duties we must complete."

"Junior Brother, even though you’ve just joined and your Cultivation Level may not be high, you are no exception. The Master might send you out on a task after the apprenticeship banquet. When that time comes, you must be careful.

"If you encounter Cultivators from other unfamiliar powers, you must avoid them and return as quickly as possible."

Finally hearing a considerate word from one of these abnormal people, Yang An suddenly felt a warmth in his heart. His impression of Second Senior Brother Fu Ming improved a little.

’This Second Senior Brother might not seem normal, but he seems to be a good person.’

"Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother. Is it because those Cultivators are not good people?"

Fu Ming shook his head.

"No. It’s because our Life Crane Sect has offended many powers in the past. Whenever one of us appears outside, we’ll be hunted down by those people."

"..."

’Good grief!’

’So we’re public enemy number one, is that it?!’

’What kind of atrocious things has this Life Crane Sect done? Just what kind of sect is this?’

Yang An suddenly felt that this sect was more than just abnormal. His sense of crisis had been steadily rising ever since he arrived, without a single moment of relief.

"Junior Brother, you should rest for now. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving. If you need anything, you can have a Corpse Slave come find me."

After explaining a few more minor details to Yang An, Fu Ming’s coughing fits became incessant. Black blood sprayed uncontrollably from his mouth and nose, and it looked as though he could collapse at any moment.

Seeing him in this state, Yang An naturally couldn’t ask him to stay any longer and saw his Second Senior Brother out.

He gazed out at the entirety of Corpse Saliva Valley, which was enveloped in a blood-red mist. It was almost impossible to see any scenery outside, and not even sunlight could penetrate it.

’Oppressive, desolate, dilapidated, and frigid...’

Yang An couldn’t help but shiver and quickly returned to his residence.

Soon, the few Corpse Slaves returned with a full set of daily necessities. These were all provided by some of the mortal powers subordinate to the Life Crane Sect. They began to arrange them for Yang An inside the residence.

After a while, once everything was arranged to Yang An’s liking, he sent the Corpse Slaves outside to guard the main gate.

After all, watching a few mindless corpses milling about in front of him was rather unnerving. It made him feel like the room was unclean, so it was better to have them out of sight.

Once the Corpse Slaves had obediently gone outside, Yang An stayed in the room by himself, planning to first take stock of what he had gained from the communal feast.

’Strength, strength... I have to increase my strength as quickly as possible.’

If it was really as his Second Senior Brother said, and he would be sent out to handle Life Crane Sect affairs after the apprenticeship banquet, then his current strength was truly not enough to put his mind at ease.