Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Never Changes
Arc: The Great Guerrilla War
Xiao Mo appeared at the doorway. Her eyes were closed, and a gentle smile rested upon her face as she spoke excitedly:
"Oh, Scarlet King!
I knew you would come to visit me.
Come with me… we have so much to talk about in my room."
She opened her eyes.
Only then did she notice that Scarlet King was not alone.
Ikalath stood behind him.
Her smile froze for a brief moment.
Then it slowly faded.
Her body stiffened slightly as frustration flashed through her mind.
(Damn… I expected him to come alone.)
(Then I could have him all to myself… without anyone interfering.)
(But this intruder came with him…)
(I'll have to get rid of him somehow.)
She quickly hid her irritation and waved politely, forcing friendliness into her voice while anger simmered inside.
"Oh… hello, Ikalath.
I didn't expect to see you here as well.
Why did you come?"
Ikalath looked at her slowly through the eyes embedded across his chest.
A mocking smile spread across his face.
It widened, revealing sharp, pointed teeth.
He crossed his arms beneath his armpits and replied lazily:
"Oh… the reason I came is simple.
My brother Scarlet decided to visit you.
So naturally, I came along.
Is there a problem with that?"
Xiao Mo opened her mouth to respond—
But Scarlet King interrupted calmly.
"Sister Mo,
my brother Ikalath came to protect me.
The Dragon Gang of the Heavenly Food Sect is attempting to assassinate me.
That is why he is accompanying me."
Xiao Mo narrowed her eyes slightly when she heard that.
She stepped back and folded her arms.
"Hmph… fine.
But if you need protection, I can ask my father to assign his three disciples to guard you."
Scarlet King laughed softly and replied kindly:
"There is no need, Sister Mo.
I do not require protection.
Your presence alone is enough to frighten enemies.
Who would be foolish enough to attempt to assassinate someone under the protection of the First Elder's daughter of the Heaven's Grip Sect?"
Xiao Mo laughed lightly.
She completely ignored Ikalath.
Her gaze remained fixed upon Scarlet King.
She placed one hand beneath her neck while the other disappeared into the wide sleeve of her pink robe.
"Ha ha ha… you're quite charming.
Your words are convincing.
Now… please come inside."
She turned and walked into the palace.
Scarlet King and Ikalath exchanged a brief glance.
Then both shrugged and followed her.
The interior of the dark wooden palace was simple.
Yellow lantern light illuminated every corner.
To the right stood a small kitchen.
To the left was a low table placed beside a large window overlooking the sect—though the curtains were drawn shut.
In the center, directly ahead of them, a spiral staircase led to the second floor.
Elder Zhao Tian Yi sat beside the table on the floor, slowly drinking tea.
Scarlet King thought:
(I will make Ikalath distract Xiao Mo…)
(while I remain alone with Zhao Tian Yi and begin my plan to weaken the Dragon Gang.)
Xiao Mo suddenly appeared at the top of the staircase.
Only her round head and long glossy black hair were visible as they draped down along the sides of the stairwell.
She called down cheerfully:
"Come up, Scarlet King."
Scarlet King moved immediately.
Ikalath followed behind him.
Their footsteps creaked softly against the old dark wood as they climbed the stairs, gripping the railing for balance.
The second floor was divided into three rooms:
One on the right.
One on the left.
And one in the center.
The staircase also continued upward toward the third floor.
Scarlet King sensed Xiao Mo's aura and quietly told Ikalath:
"She's in the room on the left."
They approached the door.
Ikalath knocked.
From inside, Xiao Mo's voice answered:
"You may enter."
Scarlet King and Ikalath stepped inside.
The room was colored in soft pink.
Stuffed toys were scattered everywhere—most of them teddy bears.
There was a large bed with pink sheets and tall posts, a small window, and several yellow lamps illuminating the space.
Ikalath spoke telepathically:
(Did we just enter a child's bedroom?)
Scarlet King replied:
(Perhaps.)
Scarlet King smiled politely.
"It seems you truly like bears."
Xiao Mo hugged a brown stuffed bear tightly and nodded.
"Yes. I love bears very much."
Scarlet King knelt beside her and said gently:
"I have a pet bear.
Perhaps one day… I will take you to meet it."
Ikalath sat down on the floor.
Then he noticed Scarlet King subtly signaling to him with hand gestures.
The message was obvious.
Distract her while I leave.
Ikalath's demonic grin widened.
The eyes on his chest glowed red.
He spoke mockingly:
"Are you a child…
to have a room like this?"
Xiao Mo's face turned red with anger.
She stepped backward and hugged the bear tightly.
"And what business is it of yours, you ridiculous fool?!
You tasteless idiot!
You have no manners or morals!
You know nothing about adorable values!"
Ikalath laughed lightly.
He placed one hand dramatically on his chest and the other on his forehead.
"Oh no… please.
You've wounded my feelings."
At that exact moment, Scarlet King stepped behind Xiao Mo so she could not see him.
He gestured once more to Ikalath to keep her distracted.
Then he whispered quietly:
"Evaporation."
Mist surrounded his body.
Then—
He vanished.
The mist reappeared on the first floor—
directly behind Zhao Tian Yi.
Scarlet King stepped out from the fog.
He thought:
(The Evaporation technique is truly remarkable.)
(It allows me to move to any location I have previously seen.)
(However, places I have never visited… I cannot teleport to.)
Zhao Tian Yi slowly turned his head.
His eyes remained closed as he sipped his steaming tea.
"What do you want?"
Scarlet King opened his arms slightly.
A demonic smile formed beneath the cloth covering his face.
"I wish to make a deal with you…
Elder Zhao Tian Yi."
The elder spoke calmly without even looking at him.
"Sit."
Scarlet King walked forward and sat across the table from him.
"I know the secret behind the rapid advancement of your sect's disciples.
And I know that you are the source of it.
That is why I came to make a deal."
Zhao Tian Yi slowly opened his eyes.
"I suspected from the moment I saw you that you did not come here merely to visit Xiao Mo.
You are cunning.
You used my daughter to approach me…
for the sake of a negotiation."
His voice sharpened slightly.
"You are clever.
But who said I would agree to your deal?"
Scarlet King calmly pulled several qi-infused foods and juices from his spatial coat and placed them on the table.
"Listen to the proposal first…
Then decide."
The elder glanced at the coat.
"A spatial coat?
Interesting."
Then he continued:
"The deal concerns qi juice and qi food… doesn't it?"
Scarlet King rested his chin upon his fist.
"You are a perceptive elder."
Then he spoke calmly while releasing a faint red aura.
"Do you not wish…
to make the Heaven's Grip Sect
the supreme power of the First Dimension?"
The elder's eyes widened slightly.
His aura exploded outward once more.
"Young man…
do not speak of matters beyond your station."
Scarlet King smiled faintly.
"And what if I am…
greater than such matters?"
He leaned slightly forward.
"In that case…
I would have every right to speak of them.
Because I would be greater than such trivial things."