Chapter 1: Life in the Demonic Cult Was Better Than Expected

For generations, the demonic forces of the martial world could not set foot in the Central Plains.

The first reason was their methods were so cruel that even the black path ruffians, often called human trash, were appalled.

The second was that while their martial arts were exceptional, they came with horrific side effects, causing ruin not only to themselves but also to those around them.

Of course, not all demonic forces were so extreme.

Though not mainstream, one particularly powerful demonic faction performed deeds so virtuous they could be mistaken for the righteous white path.

So why were all demonic forces driven out of the Central Plains?

The reason is simple and the final one.

Those who walk the demonic path are, in the end, bound to the demon.

What does that mean?

To explain further…

The demonic path disregards the moral lines humans should uphold, leaping over them like a jump rope without a second thought.

A philosophy that spares no means or methods.

Even the virtuous demonic faction was no exception.

They started by aiding the poor, proclaiming a world where all could be happy.

As time passed, they stormed government offices, beheading corrupt officials and displaying their heads on poles.

More time passed, and they openly plotted to overthrow the state, blaming it all on a false heaven and an emperor who called himself the Son of Heaven.

Understand?

The demonic path refers to madmen whose extreme inclinations make them unpredictable.

This was why the demonic path was unwelcome in the Central Plains.

And today, I was a common follower of the Sun Moon Divine Sect, a coalition of such madmen centered around those who sought to topple the state.

As always, a girl was washing clothes by the stream.

She swung the laundry bat fiercely, staring blankly.

As usual, she gazed at her reflection in the water.

‘It always feels so unfamiliar.’

The girl’s reflection was that of an ordinary Central Plains maiden.

Her skin was tanned.

Her face was freckled.

All were traces of hard labor, common among everyone except the privileged.

Yet her face felt unfamiliar for a simple reason.

Beyond the reflection of the Central Plains maiden, she could still see the faint image of a robust modern youth.

‘Sigh… How did I end up like this?’

The girl’s name was Seoah.

Or rather, it had been, but she had discarded it.

It wasn’t some grand tale.

Her parents sold her to the Sun Moon Divine Sect, known in the world as the Demonic Sect, for money.

A small act of rebellion, perhaps.

But she didn’t resent her parents.

‘Well… the famine was pretty bad.’

It was unavoidable. She understood her parents’ feelings.

She wasn’t some enlightened Buddhist.

It was a compromise, an acceptance.

She wasn’t the only one sold. Many parents in the village, unable to feed their families, sold their children too.

‘This world is full of such things.’

That was the extent of Seoah’s thoughts on the matter.

Life in the Demonic Sect was better than expected, which likely contributed to her leniency.

Three meals a day, always provided.

With enough years of service, you could quit working.

There were even holidays.

Though sold, it felt less like slavery and more like being a servant in Joseon times.

In short, the Demonic Sect was quite kind to low-ranking followers like her who didn’t practice martial arts.

The Sun Moon Divine Sect existed today as a coalition of the demonic path, but its roots lay with those obsessed with goodness, which made this possible.

Seoah was lost in thought for a while.

A maid, Shin Soso, washing clothes beside her, spoke up.

“Hey, what’re you thinking about so hard?”

“Huh? Oh… just wondering when this laundry will be done.”

“The seniors are too much. Dumping work meant for five people on just the two of us. Sigh…”

Grumbling, Soso let out a sigh.

As Soso said, this task was meant for at least five people.

But the seniors who joined before them dumped the chores on them, making them handle it all.

What could they do?

Powerless and without backing, young newcomers like them had to obey without complaint.

Still, Soso seemed particularly upset, chattering on.

“Should we say something to the Head Maid?”

“Go ahead. The Head Maid will gather the seniors and say, ‘Did you really do that?’ The seniors will reply, ‘No, we didn’t.’ The Head Maid will say, ‘Alright, let’s do better.’ And then what happens to us?”

“Probably… But still, if we both cling to the Head Maid’s ankles and beg, wouldn’t something change?”

Seoah chuckled and said nothing.

It was a dismissal.

Soso, likely just throwing out the idea, sighed heavily, tossed her laundry bat aside, and flopped onto the ground.

“Ugh! A few days from now, I’m definitely getting back at those seniors!”

“How?”

“Soon, we might get to serve some important people, even if just for a bit. Then…”

“Important guests?”

“Didn’t you hear? There’s a rumor that the Martial Training Hall is recruiting maids for their graduation ceremony…”

The sect’s hierarchy was divided into two main groups.

True Followers, who trained in martial arts, and common followers, like her, who did menial tasks like farming.

The Martial Training Hall was the sect’s only educational institution, training talented young followers to become martial artists.

At the mention of the Martial Training Hall, Seoah’s mind flickered with images of a few children.

‘I wonder how they’re doing.’

Three children from her village who used to follow her around.

Sold to the sect during the harsh famine, like her.

When they first arrived, their aptitude for martial arts was tested. Unlike Seoah, who lacked talent and became a maid, those children were assigned to the Martial Training Hall.

As Seoah fell silent, Soso, thinking she was intrigued, continued excitedly.

“Aren’t you curious? How to get back at the seniors.”

Oh, right. She was talking about revenge.

Did Soso also know someone at the Martial Training Hall?

“Hmm… sure.”

“It’s simple…! Seduce one of the young masters from the Martial Training Hall!”

“What?”

“If you catch a young master’s eye, you’ll rise in status in no time, and those seniors who tormented us will grovel at a single word from me!”

Seoah was speechless, mouth agape.

It was a completely unexpected answer.

Still grappling with her 16-year-old male identity, it was an idea she couldn’t even fathom.

A man seducing another man to climb the social ladder…?

Utterly unthinkable.

Seeing her reaction, Soso, assuming she was impressed by the clever plan, continued proudly.

“What do you think? Brilliant, right? So, come with me. Two have a better chance than one!”

“Uh… um… sure.”

Seoah nodded awkwardly.

Not because she agreed with Soso’s plan to seduce a man, but because she wanted to see old acquaintances.

She didn’t expect much, but having even a slight connection with True Followers—especially those graduating from the Martial Training Hall to become future sect officials—would surely make life easier.

‘They wouldn’t have forgotten me, right?’

Of course, it wasn’t just for such pragmatic reasons.

She was also genuinely curious about how those kids were doing.

‘Hmm… Old Man might be lonely.’

Seoah thought of her conversation partner, swinging his sword alone.

If she went to the Martial Training Hall, she wouldn’t see him for a while.

As Soso had heard, when they returned to their quarters, they were recruiting volunteers for the Martial Training Hall.

The only difference was that they weren’t selecting just a few, but dozens of volunteers in large numbers.

This was fortunate for Seoah.

Being delayed by the seniors’ dumped chores meant she returned late.

With so many being chosen, she didn’t have to worry about missing out.

Seoah and Soso applied for the Martial Training Hall, and with that, the day’s work was done.

‘Did he go back already after waiting?’

Seoah considered collapsing onto her bed, but thinking Old Man might still be waiting, she dragged herself to the back mountain alone.

As always, she headed to a quiet clearing on the back mountain, where an elderly man with white hair was silently swinging his sword.

His swordplay was plain, not flashy, repeating just two movements.

A powerful horizontal slash.

A powerful vertical slash.

Just those two, over and over.

For a year now, Seoah had watched Old Man’s simple swordsmanship become a daily routine.

Though she knew nothing of swordplay, and some might laugh at her for saying so…

Old Man’s sword seemed to be blocked by an invisible opponent.

It was as if she could see the stance of this unseen adversary.

A ridiculous thought.

A swordplay novice like her, commenting on the sword.

If the sect’s belligerent warriors heard this, they’d surely scold her.

With such silly thoughts, she headed to a fallen log, perfect for sitting.

Hearing her footsteps, Old Man spoke.

“You’re late.”

His sword never paused, his gaze fixed on it.

She’d once wondered if it was rude to talk to someone so focused on their swordplay…

– It’s just two movements. It’s fine.

Since he said it was fine, she stopped worrying long ago.

Seoah, as always, began to unload her stories.

“It’s not like I wanted to be late. Those b*tches, Deoksam and Jeomrye, dumped their chores on me…”