Chronicles of the Reincarnated Demon God - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Ju

Tang Ho-san was chatting and laughing under the moonlit sky with Tang Gon.

He could tell that Tang Gon really wanted to say something.

Pft.

“If you want to say something, go ahead.”

“It’s been a while since you last looked like… you were in a good mood.”

“Is that so?”

Tang Ho-san touched his face and then nodded his head.

He could not recall the last time he had expressed his emotions properly as he was doing now.

“Are you pleased with the second young master?”

“Pleased? Hm. I’m not sure I have the right to say that as his father. I neglected him all this time like that.”

If there was any misunderstanding on Woon-hwi’s part, it was that Tang Ho-san had not been standing by and looking on because Woon-hwi was an illegitimate child.

He’d simply had no interest.

Whatever happened to Woon-hwi, whatever thoughts Woon-hwi had about anything, Tang Ho-san had had absolutely no interest.

‘The problem is… this was not true solely for the second young master. The same was true for the first young lady and the third young master, and even the grand matron.’

Tang Ho-san’s interest had always lain elsewhere: in the security of the Nine Dragons Branch Family.

“As you already know, I always gave my children whatever was asked of me. When Gyu-jin said she wanted to join the Qingcheng Sect, I let her go. When Yu-chang wanted shadow ki, I allowed him to read in the archives.”

Tang Gon stayed quiet and listened to his lord.

Was it because it was summer? He thought he could hear the sounds of crickets chirping somewhere.

Chirp, chirp.

“This time was just more of the same. Woon-hwi wanted a reward for his effort, so I simply gave it to him. If I had the power to permit him to enter the Twisted Forest, I would have even granted that.”

Those with the Tang family name were to prove themselves purely through their own skills, irrespective of whether they were from the main line of descendants or the branch family.

That was why Tang Ho-san gave everything asked of him to his children…

The results of such actions were solely theirs to bear.

Woon-hwi and Tang Gyu-jin had done so. Tang Yu-chang had failed. That was all there was to it.

“But—” Tang Gon began.

“You’re asking whether the blood butterfly is an exception?”

“That’s right. Didn’t you treasure it greatly, my lord?”

“I did indeed.”

“You make it sound like you no longer do.”

“It’s been over 20 years since I was in active service. It is in the past.”

“…”

Tang Gon knew just how much the blood butterfly meant to Tang Ho-san, how seriously Tang Ho-san treated it, so he could not immediately believe those words.

“There is no such thing as an exception to me. If it is needed, I will give it. Woon-hwi wanted it as a reward, so I gave it. There is no other reason for it,” Tang Ho-san said, the corner of his lips curling upward. “He said he wanted to continue the Wild Wind Squad, correct? That’s all the more reason that no other reason is needed, I would like to think.”

‘This must be it. The real reason he brought out the blood butterfly.’

Tang Gon realized that this was the actual meaning behind Tang Ho-san’s actions.

Even within his lord’s heart, which had been worn away of feelings, the Wild Wind Squad’s resentment seemed to still remain.

The resentment from the day when the two wind geniuses had to give up their dreams.

“Gyu-jin and Yu-chang both saw the blood butterfly, but they did not discover its secret. It was the same for you and the rest of the squad.”

Tang Gon kept his lips tightly shut.

“Only Woon-hwi made a move upon seeing it. So, who knows? Maybe that child”—Tang Ho-san paused, lifting his head slightly to look at the half-moon shining brightly—“can even discover the blood butterfly’s secret.”

Meaning the blood butterfly’s connection would ultimately reach Woon-hwi. And that, too, would be achieved with Woon-hwi’s ability.

Tang Gon followed Tang Ho-san’s lead and looked up at the half-moon.

It looked to be radiating a reddish ring.

‘…It’ll be difficult.’

It was dawn, now. Less than a month remained until the Dark Sovereign’s visit.

* * *

“The blood butterfly… So you’re saying they said something about the Wild Wind Squad’s wishes being left in this butterfly or whatever, and then they left?”

「That’s right, Junior Lord!」

A skylark circled my head and vigorously nodded.

It had been a spider at first, but this time I had put the ghost in an animal to observe Tang Ho-san and Tang Gon.

I poked the butterfly, which still sat on my index finger, fluttering its wings.

Since it had been given to me in place of my request for access to the Twisted Forest, I expected there to be something out of the ordinary about it.

There definitely looked to be something there.

However, from the sound of the conversation, it looked like Tang Ho-san had not figured anything out either?

Although the same could be said of me.

“Have you figured anything out yet?”

I had been examining it this entire time, but I had yet to figure anything out.

Whether with inner energy, by trying to use it, or even with assassination techniques, I couldn’t figure it out.

「M-my apologies, Junior Lord. If you could give me a quarter of an hour, no, half an hour more—」

“Enough. If even after all that delving you still haven’t figured anything out, a little more time isn’t going to make a difference.”

「N-n-not at all! Just a bit longer! Just give me a little bit more time!」

“Drag that punk out.”

「As you command!」

「As you command! Eheehee! Come on out, you punk! It’s my turn now!」

As if they had been waiting for this moment, the ghosts immediately crowded around the butterfly and forcibly dragged Number 15 out.

Powpowpow!

「Junior Lorrrrrd!」

Number 15 had held on pitifully, thinking that if he was of no use, the possibility of re-entering the cycle of samsara would grow even fainter, but it was to no avail.

There’d never been a chance that the other ghosts would pass on this good opportunity to prove themselves.

“Hey, Number 13. You enter this time.”

「I’ve been awaiting that command! I, Baek Moman, will prove to you that I can meet your expectations, Junior Lord!」

One of the other ghosts who had been waiting abruptly entered and flapped the butterfly’s wings energetically to make it fly up into the air.

However, no matter how slow the butterfly was, it was far too slow, to the point that I was left yawning.

「Huh… huh? But, this can’t be?」

“This punk’s no better.”

「W-wait a moment, please, Junior Lord! I’ll soon—」

“Next.”

「As you command!」

「Th-this is strange…! Please wait, Junior Lord! Junior Lorrrrrd! Ahhh!」

What I could be sure of was that it wasn’t assassination-related. It was so slow that there was no way it could hit someone in battle.

But I couldn’t see any other function either.

No matter how many other ghosts swapped in, the results were the same.

「…What in the world is with…」

「It’s far too heavy. Like cotton drenched in water. What’s going on?」

After going through the entire lineup of ghosts, I could tell that the ghosts thought there was something strange going on.

…Surely I wasn’t ripped off?

“What do you think the reason is?”

Number 15, whose appearance looked somewhat tattered and who had looked gloomy all this while, hurried to answer first.

「It’s too heavy! Flying even a little bit consumes a not insignificant amount of spiritual power, so after flying for a while, our spiritual power feels completely drained!」

“You’re saying the consumption of spiritual power is severe? Then isn’t it some kind of magic tool?”

「It does seem likely, but… the problem is its interior is so complex that it’s difficult to even tell what kind of sorcery is embedded within it!」

Based on the information he provided, I opened my Violet Mystic Eye.

Fwooosh!

As Number 15 had alluded, despite the butterfly being as small as my palm, the structure of its interior was as complex as a maze.

“This does indeed seem like the spiritual power consumption is inefficient. Why would they create it like this?”

No matter how much spiritual power one had, after passing through such narrow and complex paths, not even 10% would remain.

Meaning it was completely useless as a magic tool.

“In the end, it looks to have been made with some other purpose in mind.”

After staring at its structure for a long time, something suddenly came to mind, so I took out a pen and paper and began to draw its structure.

The result was…

「What! But, this!」

「Wow… How did you figure this out, Junior Lord?」

I needed to analyze it in more detail to be sure, but I was sure it was a formation spell with a rather strange characteristic.

It was a maze formation built to hide something really well.

After filling up dozens of sheets of paper in an attempt to find a solution, I arrived at the innermost area of the maze formation.

However…

“No. I won’t be able to solve this.”

I ultimately gave up and tossed the pen away.

―Incomprehensible.

It was a formation spell whose basis had a solution that could never be found.

「My goodness! Is it even possible for there to be a formation spell the Junior Lord cannot figure out?」

「That’s unheard of—」

“I can’t be perfect in everything, no? Traditionally, if a person is without defects, that person has lost their humanity.”

I was in such a bad mood that I was rambling on nonsensically, but inwardly, I was incredibly shocked.

I had been confident that there was no sorcery or formation spell I couldn’t analyze short of the legendary Dharma treasures of the immortal sages.

The fact that I had even successfully analyzed the Demon Dragon Sword sealed by the First Heavenly Demon just made the shock I received even bigger.

No matter how difficult it was to believe, based on the level of this formation spell, the creator of this butterfly had to be more skilled than even the First Heavenly Demon.

That was why my competitive spirit was fired up.

Some treasure of the Sichuan Tang Clan was of a higher level than the grand treasure of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon?

As if that was possible.

“It looks like there is some other condition that has to be fulfilled.”

I could probably figure it out if I continued to live in the Tang Clan like this.

An item like this… the secret it held had to be great.

I might have a chance at getting my hands on a treasure or a hidden secret book of the Tang Clan.

I stared at the butterfly for a long time.

I temporarily put my research into the butterfly aside and went straight to dealing with the parasitic vulture and the Black Sword.

They were the first spoils of war I had acquired since beginning this new life.

Giyooo!

As if trying to prove its worth, the parasitic vulture was flying around my head in its hawk form.

“You’re shedding feathers, you know? Wanna die?”

Kiieek…

The parasitic vulture hurried to sit quietly on the table, where it planted its head.

Warble, warble.

“Let’s behave, okay?”

Nod nod!

I halfheartedly stroked the parasitic vulture’s head as I contemplated how to dispose of it.

While it was nice to see it making an effort to obey me, bringing it around everywhere would be a bit of a problem, no?

That was why I wanted to try my hand at this, but I didn’t know if it would turn out well.

“I hope this works well.”

Kiekk?

The parasitic vulture raised its head a little to look at me.

It looked taken aback at seeing me take out a dagger and slightly cut the tip of my index finger.

Slurp!

Immediately, drool began to drip from the parasitic vulture’s beak.

Its eyes were sparkling as if it had discovered a Thousand Year-Old Fleece Flower.

That’s right, I’m sure it looks like that to you. It’s life-giving blood filled with my inner energy and mystic power, after all.

Even just having a taste of life-giving blood filled with the information of the Ghost King could awaken incredible latent abilities in advanced jiangshi.

To have that dripping before its very eyes? Ah, of course it would salivate.

「Th-that precious blood—」

「This is the first time I’ve been envious of a jiangshi…」

「Everyone, pull it together! Even though we’ve become ghosts, we should maintain our dignity as humans!」

「Why should we? We’re dead.」

As if to prove that very statement, the ghost elders were practically bouncing despite that, as ghosts, they could no longer use their limbs.

“Want some?”

Keek! Kek!

It nodded its head while flapping its wings energetically.

“And if I give you this? What can you give me in return?”

Kek? Keeekk!

It looked like it was pledging its loyalty to me, but there was no chance that alone would suffice.

“The Black Bone Ghost Valley’s production plants where advanced jiangshi are created, they’re somewhere near here, right?”

Keeeeek? Keek!

“Tell me where they are and I’ll give you this much blood every morning.”

The parasitic vulture looked bewildered and conflicted at the suggestion that it betray its comrades.

I did not rush it, I just laughed while waiting.

It would eventually give into my suggestion.

The Black Bone Ghost Valley controlled production plants in various places throughout the Central Plains, including the Outer Regions.

Jiangshi arts were such a confidential matter that they were well hidden from the Divine Cult and even from the Ghost Valley’s own disciples.

But what if, one by one, they were all thoroughly ransacked?

Their asses would be on fire, they would be suffering so badly.

I intended to rob those well-off bastards down to their souls.

This was the plan I had come up with to still heed Tang Ho-san’s warning to not interfere with the assassination of the Dark Sovereign while still giving the Black Bone Ghost Valley’s backer a big fat middle finger.

And the spoils of war I gained here would greatly help with improving my power.

After raiding their stores of elixirs, I’d be able to break through all the stages I had been blocked at.

“Ehehehe!”

The ghosts paled and shivered.

「…There he goes again with that laugh!」

「He’s plotting something again!」

“What’s so difficult about this decision? If we raid the production plants, then all those advanced jiangshi could be yours too.”

Kek? Keeek!

With the last suggestion I tossed out there, the parasitic vulture ceased to hesitate. It nodded its head exaggeratedly, as if agreeing to do as I had suggested.

It seemed like it had been more worried about me possibly sharing blood with other advanced jiangshi than it had felt guilty about the betrayal.

So it was okay even with preying on the advanced jiangshi if it could be entrusted with the disposal of the production plants.

Advanced jiangshi were an oddity. The demonic essence extracted from within them could increase its wicked-beast power a significant amount.

Naturally, its butt was twitching as if it wanted to hurry immediately to the production plants.

“Then drink.”

Giyooo!

The parasitic vulture placed its beak at my index finger.

It greedily indulged in my blood for a long while. It fell back only after drinking so much that it had become so full that it could not drink any more.

Also…

Wooosh!

It began to transform.

After being filled with the Ghost King’s Blood, its wicked-beast power class had increased.

It began to shed its feathers. Its body began to inflate like a balloon and shrink again. Its build was changing.

In human terms, it was basically undergoing total body restructuring.

After it finished its transformation, the parasitic vulture’s gaze was more piercing than ever.

It was a lot smaller than before, no larger than a hawk, but the air it exuded now was incomparable.

It had begun to take on a bit of evil energy as well.

It was no longer a parasitic vulture.

It was something greater. A mythical bird.

―Ju.

An advanced jiangshi, no, rather a wicked beast, one that tended to attract evil with its cry.

Keeekk!

However, in the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, this wicked beast was called something else.

The lucky bird that served as the drum of war, announcing the advance of the demonic fiends!

With each of the Ju’s cries, my dantian resonated loudly.

And…

「Wh-what is this!?」

The character it had eaten, Captain Spider woke up.