A World with Radishes and Cooperation-4

“Haa… insufficient, insufficient.”

A map of blood splattered across the execution ground. It didn’t take more than ten minutes to punish the thirty-odd criminals.

Considering her level, it was a very long time. She meticulously dissected each one.

During the ten minutes she spent punishing the criminals, everyone who witnessed the scene at the execution ground kept their heads bowed, thinking to themselves.

‘I’m so lucky I’m not in their place.’

They knew all too well how terrifying the woman who reigned as their Heavenly Demon was.

Therefore, it was all too easy to predict what would happen to those who offended her, like setting fire to an autumn field.

The reason people gathered under her, who was arrogant, cruel, and capricious, was because her Martial arts were so outstanding.

“Youngma, how many days will it take to track them?”

It was also because some people were indebted to her.

“I can catch up in about three days.”

“I’ll give you two days. If the person you’re tracking matches this drawing, you must bring them to me intact, without laying a finger on them.”

In that sense, Youngma would bring back the head of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader if the Heavenly Demon told her to.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“Yes, you’ve never disappointed me. Go.”

The woman called Youngma disappeared, her short black hair fluttering.

“……”

Heavenly Demon swept her gaze across the execution ground, where blood and chunks of flesh were scattered.

The Chief Manager and the Cult’s People behind her were afraid of being caught in the crossfire, so they couldn’t move from their spots, keeping all their senses open to her next action.

“I need to rest a bit. I’ve been rushing here from Yunnan without a break.”

“Yes. Then I will have people prepare your chambers.”

“Yes, then I will be in my Disciple’s Palace.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

“There’s no need. I want to be alone.”

“Yes. Then I will come to the Disciple’s Palace to escort you when the chambers are ready.”

The Chief Manager, cupping his fist and bowing deeply, quickly left the execution ground, followed by dozens of attendants.

Yeonhwa, the attendant preparing Heavenly Demon’s chambers, had been in the Cult for less than a month.

“…I have a question. Why is the Disciple’s Palace called the Disciple’s Palace? Did the Cult Leader have a disciple?”

The Cult’s People doted on Yeonhwa, who had just joined, like a younger sister, but for some reason, this time they scolded her with stern faces.

“Shh! You’ll get in trouble for saying that. You shouldn’t talk carelessly about anything related to the Disciple’s Palace.”

“Eh… is that so? The Chief Manager mentions it, though.”

“It’s not that you shouldn’t mention the name at all, but you’ll be in big trouble if you make a mistake while bringing it up.”

They said sternly with a ‘you’ll be in big trouble’ face, and Yeonhwa shrunk back and replied.

“I see. But I’m still curious.”

“Well, even I don’t know much about it… but I’ve heard that there was a disciple before our Black Heaven Cult was founded, and they died for some reason.”

“Ah… I wonder what they died of…”

“I don’t know that either. Anyway, we shouldn’t carelessly bring up that name. Look at today, we cleaned up dozens of corpses.”

Yeonhwa, who fortunately hadn’t seen the gruesome scene at the execution ground, guessed that it must have been a very frightening sight from the pale faces of her seniors.

After that conversation, the attendants began to focus on tidying up the chambers, and just as they were finishing, Yeonhwa opened her mouth.

“The Cult Leader must have really cherished their disciple. That’s why they created the Disciple’s Palace to honor them.”

“……”

She said, polishing the bed frame with a cloth.

“And they must have been as incredibly cool as the Cult Leader, right? They say the disciple resembles the master. I was saved from being sold as a plaything to a rich family thanks to the Cult Leader. Surely the disciple was a wonderful person too.”

“……”

“Hey, I’m the only one talking. It’s too quiet. Give me some reaction…”

Yeonhwa, embarrassed that no one was responding to her, turned around.

“Yes, I should have reacted.”

There was the Cult Leader standing in the middle of the other attendants, who were prostrating themselves on the floor.

“C, Cult Leader!!”

Yeonhwa, belatedly realizing the situation, knelt down and bowed.

‘Oh, no. I’m in big trouble.’

This mouth of mine is the problem.

A feeling of blood draining away and a slight dizziness shook her.

“Why are you so surprised? Do you think I’m going to eat you?”

With a deep smile, the Cult Leader slowly approached her.

“I, I’m sorry.”

Yeonhwa lowered her head further as her footsteps drew closer.

“Raise your head.”

A forefinger lifted Yeonhwa’s chin.

Jet-black hair tied back, eyes like carved rubies.

Seeing her own reflection in those red eyes, Yeonhwa felt like she was suffocating.

“The chambers seem to be very well tidied.”

The Cult Leader, looking at Yeonhwa’s face for a while, looked around her chambers and smiled with satisfaction.

“You may leave now.”

At her words, the attendants who had been kneeling hesitantly got up, bowed, and began to leave the Cult Leader’s chambers.

“Ah, tell the Chief Manager to show some appreciation to those of you who tidied up the chambers today.”

“C, Cult Leader?”

“And be sure to take extra care of this cute child.”

She stroked Yeonhwa’s head a couple of times and then pushed her towards the attendants.

“Go on, get out. I’m going to sleep now.”

“Yes… Yes!”

As Heavenly Demon began to take off her outer robe, the attendants hurriedly left the room.

After the attendants left, Heavenly Demon, dressed in light clothing, leaned against the bed and looked at the calligraphy and painting that the Chief Manager had brought.

“Was what that Wudang Sect bastard I burned to death last time true?”

-Heavenly Demon, will you stop this destruction if you recover the treasure you lost?

Was the words of the bastard who cried out while burning in Black flame a prophecy?

“I don’t know.”

She wanted to track down the truth herself, but high expectations lead to great disappointments.

What if what she found at the end of the pursuit was not the answer she wanted?

And if the Demonic state of mind she possessed grew stronger…

“Then even burning the world wouldn’t calm it down.”

That’s why she sent Youngma.

Two days, in two days Youngma will give her the answer.

“I miss you. Inho.”

Heavenly Demon murmured sadly, stroking the calligraphy and painting.

She didn’t look like the person who had slaughtered over thirty people today.

“Wow~ Sichuan.”

That’s right, I’m in Sichuan now. That Sichuan of Sichuan Jajang.

I switched between walking and riding in a carriage, but traversing that vast distance in such a short time accumulated fatigue in my body.

Something feels heavy and sluggish… I think I’ll sleep soundly tonight.

“Okay, let’s go fill our bellies~”

Namgoong Soyeon, without tiring, grabbed my hand and entered an inn.

“Welcome~ Are there two of you?”

A woman with a bright personality greeted us, and Namgoong Soyeon made a V with her fingers.

We sat down in a suitable spot, and soon two plates of Mapo Tofu (I don’t know the menu anyway) that Namgoong Soyeon had ordered were placed before us.

“I’ll enjoy the meal.”

When I, who didn’t have a penny to my name, said that, she waved her hand as if not to worry.

“It’s nothing. If there are people in need, you help them. It’s a virtue that Martial Artist must uphold.”

“I see.”

I nodded vaguely at her words and put the Mapo Tofu in my mouth.

“……”

“Gang Gongja, what’s wrong?”

Spicy.

So damn spicy.

“Cough, cough, is all Sichuan food this spicy?”

Now I’m even starting to cough.

“Hmm… I think this is just right. It must be spicy for Gang Gongja.”

“I’m weak with spicy food.”

“Weak with spicy food?”

“…Please think of it as someone who is weak with spicy food.”

“Oho…”

I ended up fighting a battle with the Mapo Tofu that wasn’t planned. Only after eating the Mapo Tofu and water in almost equal proportions did the tingling in my mouth subside a little.

As I finished the combative meal, I realized that Namgoong Soyeon, who had already scraped the bottom of the plate clean, was staring intently at me.

“Is there something on my face?”

“No. It’s just that Gang Gongja seems different from the other people I’ve seen.”

“In what way?”

“Well, for example, when eating spicy food like this, there are people who pretend to eat it well out of stubbornness.”

“That’s a foolish thing to do. What’s the point of being good at eating spicy food?”

“I guess so. Maybe they just don’t want to admit that they can’t do something?”

“People aren’t omnipotent, so there’s always at least one thing they can’t do. Pretending to be perfect? That’s just a facade.”

“Heeh~”

She made an exclamation like in a Japanese drama, and she looked me up and down, and I became embarrassed and turned my gaze away.

“You’re staying at this inn, right?”

“Of course. It’s already late at night. I already rented a room earlier.”

“Oh, then tell me where your room is.”

“It’s the same room as me?”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s not like I have unlimited money. I have to save on travel expenses to get to the Martial Arts Alliance.”

“Still, men and women are different. Aren’t you worried, Namgoong Soyeon?”

“Hey, what harm could weak Gang Gongja do to me?”

That’s true, but it makes me feel bad.

Show-off.