I rested for another day at the inn and checked the condition of the former leader, Cheon In-ji. Thanks to my magical treatment of his body and spirit, there were no major physical issues, but he lacked true energy and was malnourished, so when he came to, I had to order him food that wouldn't strain him.
"What a handful."
I was gathering natural energy and infusing it into Cheon In-ji. Zhuge Xiaohui, having nothing to do, was rolling around on the bed.
Then Dang Pil-yeon came looking for me. Seeing that I was infusing inner energy into Cheon In-ji, he didn't disturb me.
"Hmm... This should be enough for today."
"Who is that man?"
"None of your business. By the way, is your daughter alright?"
At that, Dang Pil-yeon sighed deeply and said.
"My daughter is no longer fit to be called a person. Her body is as ruined as it can be, and her mind is broken. All she can do is lie there."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Actually, I could have healed her. But I couldn't say that would be right. Even if I healed her, Dang Seol-hwi would have to live in torment, remembering what they did to her. In her current state, with her mind collapsed and no longer suffering, might actually be better for her. In a way, it might sound like an excuse to avoid responsibility, but she wasn't someone I was close to, and I refuse to heal someone and then get cursed for it.
"Anyway, thank you for your help."
Dang Pil-yeon handed me a stack of certificates.
"These are Cheongeumbang certificates that can be used anywhere. This should be enough for one chest of gold bars."
I took only half and returned the other half.
"Use the rest for your daughter's treatment."
"Th-Thank you."
Dang Pil-yeon then returned to the Martial Arts Alliance. I called Zhuge Xiaohui.
"Hey, servant."
"Huh? Why are you calling me?"
I handed Zhuge Xiaohui a leather pouch containing silver and gold coins and said.
"Go see your family. The clan leader might be difficult because of his position, but you can see the rest of the family outside the clan. Use that money to eat good food with them or buy them gifts. Write a separate letter to the clan leader."
Hearing that, Zhuge Xiaohui asked me.
"Are you going far away?"
"Yeah, I'm going to travel to the Western Regions. Of course, you, my servant, are coming too. You probably won't see them for a long time."
"I-I see. Okay. I don't know if the other family members will want to see me, but I'll go see them."
I also secretly attached a shadow soldier to Zhuge Xiaohui. Unless the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect went mad, they wouldn't touch my property, but just in case. And the Zhuge Clan wasn't far from the Martial Arts Alliance, so I thought she'd be back quickly.
After sending Zhuge Xiaohui off, I took care of Cheon In-ji and continued researching the martial arts I had obtained by running simulations. As evening came, Cheon In-ji finally opened his eyes.
"Wh-Where is this..."
"An inn near the Martial Arts Alliance."
"How did I get here..."
"Questions later. First, eat."
I took chicken porridge from my inventory and handed it to Cheon In-ji. Hungry, he began eating the porridge deliciously.
"Don't eat too fast. Your stomach will be shocked."
"Okay."
After the meal, he briefly circulated his energy.
"There is inner energy circulating in my body. Did you give it to me?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you. Come to think of it, we haven't properly exchanged names. I am Cheon In-ji, the 22nd leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. And you?"
"I am Dark Jade Heaven Taejin, called the best under heaven."
"The best under heaven... Are you from the Orthodox faction?"
"No, I don't belong to any side. That's why you can be here safely."
"I-I see..."
This time, I asked him. Although I already knew, I needed to build a relationship with this man to use him as a key to enter the Demonic Cult.
"You were rescued along with someone else on commission from the Orthodox side. Why were you captured by the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect?"
At that, Cheon In-ji seemed a bit surprised.
"Are you saying you rescued me from the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect? And two people at that... I can't believe it. I thought I was rescued by chance during the war, but you did it alone..."
"That's because I'm the best under heaven."
"I-Is that so?"
The phrase 'best under heaven' was a very good way to explain everything at once.
Cheon In-ji told me what had happened. In short, he had become a member of a group called Eunjalim opposing the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect, and to uncover their information, he had chosen to be captured on purpose.
"What a stupid thing to do. For the head of a faction to abandon his own force and get captured so easily."
"It may look that way to you, but I had no choice. We didn't have many means to oppose the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect."
Indeed, the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect was strong. It was founded by the Extreme God from the future, so it couldn't be helped.
"So, did you get any information?"
"No. Other than that they are looking for something."
"That's ridiculous. You could have predicted that much from their movements alone. To get captured just to find that out, you went through all that suffering for nothing."
Actually, he had found out a bit more, but it was information everyone already knew, so he had truly done something useless. And in the original, he even got brainwashed, putting Cheon Un-woon in a very difficult situation. He was a real troll.
"Hoo... You're right. To risk my life to uncover information about the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect, yet not obtain even a single piece of important information... It's truly lamentable."
"I plan to cross over to the Western Regions, so I'll drop you off at the Heavenly Demon Cult on the way."
Hearing that, Cheon In-ji asked me.
"I'm grateful you're taking me back to the Heavenly Demon Cult, but you say you're going to the Western Regions... You have no intention of fighting the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect?"
I answered his question firmly.
"As long as they don't cause me harm, I don't care who becomes the ruler of the world."
"I-Is that so?"
"Get some rest. We're leaving tomorrow, so know that."
"Okay."
The next day, Zhuge Xiaohui returned past noon. Having seen her family after a long time, she looked much happier.
"It seems you spent good time with your family."
"Yes, thank you for your consideration. I didn't receive forgiveness, but I saw my father too."
"I'm glad. Now let's go."
We bought necessary items and began traveling southwest. When crossing the Yangtze River, I used telekinesis to lift the carriage and walk across the river. Cheon In-ji was greatly surprised.
"You truly are the best under heaven. To perform such a feat without a care for the enormous inner energy consumption..."
"Taejin-nim is strong, after all."
Zhuge Xiaohui's proud response to Cheon In-ji's admiration was a bit strange, but I just let it pass.
Anyway, while continuing to travel, I taught Zhuge Xiaohui martial arts and also helped Cheon In-ji circulate his energy. With good food and energy circulation assistance, Cheon In-ji's body recovered quickly, and within a week, he was able to hold a sword again. So I handed him a sword.
"It feels good to move my body after a long time. And I like the sword too. Thank you."
"If you're thankful, I'd like you to spar with Zhuge Xiaohui after you recover. She lacks practical experience."
"Is that so? I understand."
About two weeks later, we passed through Guizhou and entered Guangxi. A little further was the Shiwanda Mountains. In many martial arts novels, the Demonic Cult is located either in the Tian Mountains near the Western Regions in Xinjiang Uygur, or in the Shiwanda Mountains below Guangxi. In Nano Machine, the Demonic Cult was in the Shiwanda Mountains.
Since the Heavenly Demon Cult was based on the White Lotus Society, personally, I thought the Tian Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur would be more fitting for a demonic cult.
Anyway, we continued traveling and finally arrived at the Shiwanda Mountains. Cheon In-ji had fully recovered, and Zhuge Xiaohui had worked hard and finally reached the early stage of the Profound Realm.
"Now you're somewhat useful."
"What are you saying? Reaching the Profound Realm at this age isn't just useful; it's a great achievement, isn't it?"
"With me teaching you, this is slow."
"I-Is that so?"
It was true. With the benefit of my [Teacher] ability, it was definitely slow.
But not knowing that, Zhuge Xiaohui grumbled.
"Would it hurt you to give me a compliment? Even Leader Cheon In-ji says it's a great achievement."
"I only stated the truth. To be honest, you lack talent. You could say I'm forcibly raising you."
"Good grief... Following Taejin-nim, my martial arts improve, but so do my wrinkles."
"Then work harder. As your martial arts level rises, your wrinkles will smooth out too."
"Hah... I'm sure they will."
Ignoring Zhuge Xiaohui's grumbling, we continued and finally reached the checkpoint managed by the Heavenly Demon Cult. It was built as magnificently as any other fortress, and there were many martial artists guarding the entrance. Merchants were also coming and going, showing they had dealings with other regions, but the checks were still thorough. Before, I had just flown in using [Stealth], so entering formally like this was a bit different.
When it was our turn to be checked, Cheon In-ji quietly said something to the martial artists on guard. They were greatly surprised, told us to wait, and hurriedly ran somewhere. After a while, they returned with a masked man. From the original, I knew this man was the leader's personal bodyguard, the Great Dharma Protector, Mara Gyeom.
"Gasp! Leader!"
Seeing Cheon In-ji, he seemed very surprised.
"Be quiet. You'll startle people."
"Ah, understood. I will escort you. By the way, who are these people?"
"These friends are my benefactors, so don't worry."
"Understood. I'll spread the word."
Following Mara Gyeom's guidance, we drove the carriage into the Heavenly Demon Cult. Zhuge Xiaohui looked around and said.
"Wow... We're actually at the Heavenly Demon Cult. Following Taejin-nim, I've come to all sorts of places."
Hearing that, Cheon In-ji laughed and said.
"Child, you, as an Orthodox member, might have heard of this place as something like a demon's lair, but this too is a place where people live."
"I see."
They might not know, but in other creative works, the Heavenly Demon Cult is often portrayed as a true demon's lair.
Following Mara Gyeom's guidance, we moved to the Leader's Palace. The current leader, Cheon Yu-jong, and the elders, having heard the news, came outside to wait.
"We greet the Former Leader!!"
As soon as we got off the carriage, the elders and personal bodyguards knelt, cupped their fists, and paid their respects.
"Father, where have you been all this time? We searched hard but could not find your whereabouts."
Cheon Yu-jong welcomed Cheon In-ji warmly. In the original, due to a plot by the Extreme Six Martial Arts Sect, Cheon Yu-jong learned the Reverse Blood Divine Art, and as a side effect, his mind became unstable. It seemed he was still fine for now.
"This is not something to be said here. Let's go inside and talk in detail."
Then Cheon Yu-jong looked at us and asked.
"Who are they?"
"Dark Jade Heaven Taejin, the best under heaven, and his disciple, the Calamity Witch Zhuge Xiaohui. I hope you will not be rude to him. Even if all of us attacked together, we could not defeat him. And he is my benefactor."
At that, the elders began to murmur.
"The best under heaven... I have heard of him. The rumor that he destroyed an entire clan with a single blow... We thought it was false..."
That incident was so famous that it seemed even here they had heard rumors of me.
"I did not see it myself, but with him, it might be possible."
"I see. Please, come inside. I have ordered the Former Leader's Palace to be prepared."
"Yes, let's."
From here, we moved separately. Cheon In-ji seemed to go to the Former Leader's Palace with Cheon Yu-jong and the elders. Zhuge Xiaohui and I were guided by the leader's personal bodyguard, the Right Dharma Protector, Seop Maeng, to the guest quarters.
"Good grief, the best under heaven... Is it true that you really destroyed a clan with a single blow?"
Unable to believe the rumor, Seop Maeng asked me directly as he guided us.
"The Martial Arts Alliance was playing tricks, so it turned out that way."
At that, Seop Maeng laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, those Orthodox bastards messed with the wrong person. Hypocrites are all like that."
At that, Zhuge Xiaohui scowled. Having been a member of the Orthodox faction herself, she seemed offended by Seop Maeng's words.
"Anyway, after I've finished guiding you to your quarters, I'd like you to teach me a move."
Then Zhuge Xiaohui stepped forward.
"I'll teach you."