Chapter 239: Walking The Demonic Path
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The path of the Demon.
It doesn’t mean to become an actual Demon like the Death Apostles.
Though their doctrines and way of life are similar to the “Demon” meaning of Murim.
It means to be unrestricted by the law, to walk your own path, without morality to stop your conviction.
You kill if necessary, you steal, you destroy, and you crush, all to get to your goals. You don’t adhere to any laws; you don’t make friends... nor allies.
You’re alone in that journey—the ultimate “self-insert edge lord” trope!
And the reason why there’s a big cult following over cultivation stories with “morally ambiguous” to plain old “villainous” main characters.
Though, quite honestly, I don’t like those. There are very few that deal with philosophical aspects; they have degraded to just self-insert power fantasies with nothing else.
But this time it’s different; I am not looking at books to read inside a web novel app or something. I am looking at a true Heavenly Demon.
To him, the fictional tropes that I once read are all the truth, and he walked through such a path. But this time, it isn’t all awesome and "badass." He suffered a lot, he cried, and he yearned for it all to end.
Yet he kept moving relentlessly because of his incredible perseverance.
But what did he want to accomplish at the end of the road? Supreme power to stand equal to heavens, or even surpass it?
It seems that despite the level he reached, he never could reach that high because of the Apocalypse and the Heavenly Empress stopping him.
So, compared to these other cultivation self-insert stories where there’s a ruthless, emotionless, villainous protagonist that becomes the Heavenly Demon later, it could be said that my master is a failure.
He failed to reach that trope; he broke it into pieces and decided to walk through another path when he was almost about to reach the pinnacle.
But why?
What made him change?
Was it... love?
Maybe that’s what his Lust Seal represents—the emotion of love he wanted to seal away.
“The Path of the Demon is a simple one. Some call it the “easy way out”... To not be avid by the rules of anybody, to grow stronger on your own accords, to kill, plunder, and progress.” He said. “That is the doctrine of the Unorthodox Faction, of the Demonic Faction. We are all criminals because we don’t want to follow the rulers and because we don’t want to kneel before heaven. We are rebels; we fight back against the system and against everything! We break the rules, we shatter traditions, we destroy righteousness... We forge a new path.”
“Anarchy, huh?” I wondered.
“What?” He looked me in the eyes. “Hah! Well, I suppose you could call me a damned anarchist then! But no, I wouldn’t go that way either. Although indeed there are aspects of it within our entire doctrine. The doctrine of the demons that do not want to obey the rules and will always fight back against heaven.”
“No, there must be something else about that...” I said. “Isn’t it?”
“...”
The Heavenly Demon walked towards the terrace, looking down at the large village surrounding his palace. The children playing on the streets, the families walking, carrying all kinds of harvested goods.
Despite serving a demon, nobody looked to be hungry; nobody seemed to be struggling; they had to work hard, yeah, but they had very good lives nonetheless. Fulfilling lives...
“Do you see this?” He pointed in the distance.
“The village?” I asked.
“These people are the descendants of beggars, thieves, and assassins.” He said. “Scum of the world, their lineages and families would have never been allowed to exist.”
“...”
“I took them in after their ancestors tried to kill me, to rob me, to betray me...” He said. “And I killed their ancestors too; yes, I did.”
“And you kidnapped their families.” I wondered.
“You could say that.” He nodded; he looked quite proud of that. “I took them in. I gave them a mission and then told them to work hard to live here. Before the Apocalypse, that world... It would have never welcomed them. The orthodox factions controlled everything, they would have been chased down and eliminated. Even the children.”
“Oh...” I muttered. “I know it’s a bit weird to say, but I think you’re doing a good deed here, despite the whole façade of wanting them to kill you or something... I can tell you’re actually helping them, letting them live in a world without the prejudices of the outside world. They still look to be working really hard to live, but it’s a free world nonetheless.”
“Hmph.” He smiled gently, looking at the thousands of people below. “I don’t know about the others... Some were just really selfish; others lived in luxury and only wanted more; but I... As a Demon, I lived a life of poverty and suffering. My family was killed when I was four years old. Both of them were beheaded. Do you know why?”
I felt shocked at how he was talking about his family dying in such a calm and composed manner.
"First, you must practice intense physical exercise and combat.” He said. “While being below the influence of Demonic Ki. Your first step is to train while eating this Black Demonic Grass.”
He showed me a bag full of pitch-black grass; it had a weird, sulfuric smell.
“This grass will awaken your most painful memories, and you will then have to refine them into your power. To let them flow through your Ki, to let them erupt out of your fists, out of your kicks!” He roared. “So? Are you willing to do this or not? I won’t ask you again. This is your very LAST chance to walk away.”
“...”
I have attained my own martial arts and everything, but even now, after hearing everything and analyzing my own powers.
They’re lacking.
It feels like they were made to absorb other powers and abilities.
And because Myriad Self Arts seem to be based on my various Egos, representations of my own inner psyche...
Then it means I must train my own emotions and my own sense of self.
And my traumas might be a big part of why those separate Egos exists, aside from Skills.
It is because my own sense of self is shattered.
I never truly realized this, but I don’t feel complete with my current self.
I feel broken down and stitched together.
My past life as that reader and my current life as Anna.
And everything in between.
They still feel oddly disconnected and disjointed.
A crack can spread into countless more cracks.
And the result is why I have so many Egos now.
As painful as it might be, I must take on the challenge.
And honor my master’s legacy.
“I will.” I nodded. “I will do my best to learn your legacy, master.” I bowed. “Please accept this humble disciple under your tutelage.”
He looked at me with sharp red eyes, nodding.
“You seem to have a rough past yourself too.” He said. “Eat this grass, and channel your Ki while doing so. Do you see that dummy? It is made of the hardest wood in the entire world and has been reinforced for a thousand years. It won’t break; hit it. The more intense your blows, the more your traumas will pour out. I will tell you when to stop or continue.”
“...Very well.” I nodded.
I looked at the black grass and put it in my mouth.
It was bitter, salty, and citric, all combined with a disgusting, sulfuric smell that filled my nostrils.
And then I felt it through my entire body and soul.
Memories.
Countless memories rushing out; the power of this grass dug the deepest, most painful ones.
A cursed grass, without a doubt...
Those memories that I had thought I had forgotten already.
The day changed everything.
When the First Awakening began.
The fear and despair I felt...
The horror.
The feeling of powerlessness.
It’s all coming out now.
“Face your fears!” Roared the Heavenly Demon. “And assimilate them! Make them your strength!”
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