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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Psychopath
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After passing on even the inner arts cultivation method, my master left without looking back, saying he had other matters to attend to.
Left alone in the manor, I ate the dinner that Jin Ha-yeon had prepared and then began my evening routine.
In truth, the routine during the Hour of the Dog was quite flexible. It was time after dinner to make up for any deficiencies from the day.
If my morning scripture studies had been lacking, I'd listen to additional lessons to catch up on the missed material. If my afternoon martial arts training had been insufficient, I'd practice the neglected techniques more.
That was why I decided to focus on martial arts first today.
After all, in terms of progress, sparring took precedence over the interview. The interview just required memorizing about five hundred pages, so it shouldn't be a big issue.
Of course, the more I practiced the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, the sooner the side effects would come...
'For now, I need to build my skills to at least the level where I can enter the Demonic Path Academy, no matter what.'
There was no option to not learn it.
After swinging my sword for another half shichen and performing Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment, Jin Ha-yeon approached and spoke.
"Young Master, you must be fatigued in your muscles and meridians from practicing martial arts today, so before your bath, allow me to perform Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians for you."
Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians. If I had to compare it to modern terms, it was like a massage or acupressure—but not just with hands; it used internal energy.
Having spent over two shichen exercising today, my body was already tired, so the offer of a massage was most welcome.
I lay face down on the floor mat, and she began calmly pressing my muscles and meridians with her fingers.
Along with her fingers pressing the muscles and meridians, her energy flowed into me.
A cool sensation naturally seeped in, and a sound escaped my lips without me realizing it.
"Euuugh...."
It wasn't the usual refreshing chill adults feel when soaking in hot water, like "Ah, that hits the spot~."
It was literally cold.
The energy flowing from her fingers carried a chill.
As I shivered, she withdrew her hands for a moment, steadied her breathing, and spoke. It seemed she wasn't at a high enough level to operate her internal energy and talk like my master.
"The martial art I practice contains yin energy, so it may feel a bit cold. However, cooling overheated muscles quickly with this chill actually aids recovery, so please bear with it just a little longer, Young Master."
With that, Jin Ha-yeon extended her hands again and began pressing various points on my body.
Each time her touch reached me, goosebumps rose from the cold, and a natural curiosity arose.
"But what martial art is it that you practice, Miss Jin?"
A technique that handled yin energy—it didn't seem ordinary.
At my question, she withdrew her hands again, let out a faint sigh, and answered.
"The Bare Hand Demon Art, Young Master."
"...Is the Bare Hand Demon Art something just anyone can learn?"
The doubt rose naturally.
I was sure my master had said it was one of the top demonic arts, excluding the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
"In the Divine Cult, all demonic arts except the Heavenly Demon Divine Art are open to acolytes who have entered the Demonic Path Academy."
"Ah!"
Come to think of it, that made sense for an institution training the elites to lead the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
'Hmm. So that's why a maidservant like Jin Ha-yeon is handling my education?'
It didn't add up for an ordinary maidservant to prepare someone for entry into the cult's top academy.
Of course, that raised the question of why a graduate of the cult's premier academy was working as a maidservant.
But an even bigger question struck my mind.
"Wait, the side effect of the Bare Hand Demon Art..."
I trailed off without realizing it. Because that side effect was...
An increase in sexual desire...
Realizing that, I accidentally gulped loudly.
'N-No way, has she been maintaining that expressionless face all this time to suppress her lust?'
Misunderstanding my reaction, Jin Ha-yeon furrowed her brows slightly and said,
"I apologize, but the side effects of the Bare Hand Demon Art differ between men and women, Young Master."
"Ahem. I-I see. Then, could you tell me the side effect for a woman?"
"If a woman or a man born with strong yin energy practices the Bare Hand Demon Art, their rationality develops over emotions, allowing far more cold and logical thinking."
I tilted my head at her answer.
'That's a side effect? It seems too mild compared to other demonic arts.'
Finding it odd, I asked again.
"Are there no other side effects?"
"...I've heard it diminishes compassion and empathy for others' emotions, but since it's a martial art learned to execute the faithless, I don't consider it a side effect."
"..."
In other words, it turns you into a psychopath?
While I sat there speechless,
"Please save your questions until after the Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians is complete."
With that, Jin Ha-yeon extended her hands again and resumed.
A would-be psychopath pressing all over my body with fingers infused with internal energy.
Brrr.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin, and I couldn't help but shudder.
* * *
The next day, early in the morning.
Thanks to the cold Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians from the psychopath-in-training, my body felt like it had received a divine blessing—Il-mok woke up refreshed, without any muscle soreness.
Thanks to that, I could start Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment lightly first thing and begin classes.
Partway through the lesson.
'As expected.'
Watching Il-mok diligently absorbing her explanations, Jin Ha-yeon inwardly let out a soft exclamation.
A needle in a bag, as they say.
It had only been two days yesterday and today, but she could already recognize his talent from observing him.
Even though it was his first time encountering the doctrines, he understood them fluidly without stumbling and often asked questions in reverse.
Most weren't from lack of understanding but to confirm if his grasp was accurate.
On top of that, the physical talent and martial arts aptitude he'd shown yesterday.
But her admiration wasn't directed at Il-mok.
'As expected, the Sovereign's discernment is impeccable.'
It was admiration for the Heavenly Demon who had recognized such qualities in Il-mok.
As she inwardly deepened her faith in the Heavenly Demon, Il-mok suddenly raised his right hand.
"When do we start studying the Code of Laws and history texts?"
At his question, Jin Ha-yeon swallowed a sigh inwardly.
'His talent matches the Sovereign's expectations perfectly, but that laziness is the problem.'
Because of the argument on the first day, she viewed Il-mok as lazy.
She was half right.
"Don't worry. With the Young Master's brilliance, you'll understand the Code of Laws and history texts just as easily as this scripture."
He just wasn't lazy when his life was on the line.
"I'm not asking about difficulty—I'm asking when we start."
At Il-mok's retort, Jin Ha-yeon inwardly thought it unexpected and began explaining in detail.
"We plan to start those after the first full reading of the Heavenly Demon Secret Record. Since the Heavenly Demon Secret Record forms the foundation of our Divine Cult, the contents of the Code of Laws and history texts are linked to its doctrines. Studying them after grasping the scripture will make them easier to understand."
"I see."
Il-mok nodded, satisfied with the explanation, but for some reason, she continued.
"Even after finishing the scripture, if you encounter parts in the Code of Laws or history texts you don't understand, reviewing this scripture will be a great help. As I mentioned, all studies in our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult are based on this scripture."
Seeing her gaze at the scripture with conviction, Il-mok felt a surge of curiosity.
"Then, how many times have you read this scripture, Miss Jin?"
"How could one count the times? When studying history or the Code of Laws, I reread this scripture countless times. And even after, whenever doubts arose or questions lingered in my heart, reading it brought peace."
For some reason, despite saying it brought peace,
"Now, I can recite every phrase from every chapter word for word without missing a single particle. Even now, rather than recalling it in my head, I enjoy reading it directly from the text at times."
The more she praised the scripture, the denser the madness in her eyes grew.
'...A psychopath and a fanatic? What kind of monster is this hybrid?'
Witnessing the horrific spawn of a cult and demonic art, Il-mok belatedly realized one crucial fact.
He stared at the scripture before him—the Heavenly Demon Secret Record—and gulped dryly.
This scripture was dangerous. For mental health, it was best to read it as little as possible.
The problem was,
'If I don't memorize this, my head rolls off in a year...'
And if he failed this, he couldn't even start the other test subjects: history and the Code of Laws.
It was a true dilemma, like falling into Zhuge Liang's trap.
As he racked his brain frantically for a way out, a flash of inspiration hit him.
'Right! I can use that.'
It wasn't perfect, but it was usable. Still, a problem remained.
'The issue is I can't trust that psycho fanatic...'
She was mad for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, not her master, so in a way, this maidservant was also his watcher.
Pondering how to hide "that" from Jin Ha-yeon, Il-mok shifted his thinking.
"Sorry, but could you bring me ink, a brush, and a blank book without any text? Ah, and if possible, a fine-tipped brush."
Instead of hiding, he'd show it openly to deceive her.
At the sudden request, Jin Ha-yeon felt puzzled but complied first. After all, she was his maidservant.
'...His aptitude is excellent, but I worry he might be indolent.'
She wondered if he was sending her away as an excuse to rest, but she quickly banished the irreverent thought.
'He is one chosen by the Heavenly Demon. Doubt is forbidden.'
Shaking off the unease, she fetched the blank book, ink, and fine brush as instructed. Il-mok then opened the Heavenly Demon Secret Record and began transcribing into the blank book.
Watching curiously, Jin Ha-yeon soon understood what he was doing.
'He's copying the scripture to review.'
It seemed like a form of review to not forget today's lessons.
But it was subtly different from what she imagined.
He wasn't just mindlessly copying the text.
Using the fine brush, he was editing the scripture's content.
Omitting redundant explanations or emphatic phrases, and instead adding annotations from her own lesson explanations.
She might not realize it, but Il-mok was creating his own study guide while reviewing.
Since he'd heard the scripture must never be defaced, he was making a new one this way.
Otherwise, he might have just scribbled her explanations into the scripture she gave him.
Then, examining what he wrote, Jin Ha-yeon tilted her head and spoke.
"I apologize, Young Master. Could you tell me what this part means?"
"Ah, this?"
Il-mok smiled lightly at her question.
"It's my personal code. Writing long texts repeatedly during study is tiring, so I use shorthand symbols that condense multiple meanings."
What Il-mok was showing her.
It was Hangul.