Prison of Storms (3)
This time, I firmly refused.
“I don’t want to.”
“What do you mean you don’t want to?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Why not?”
“You said you’d never teach me anyway. Why waste my breath?”
“True, but can’t you at least tell me what kind of dark arts you want to learn? We’re close enough for that, aren’t we?”
“I don’t think we’re that close.”
“Fine! I won’t ask anymore. Anyone would think I’m the one begging to learn.”
How long will that attitude last? A moment? Half an hour?
Not even a few minutes passed before the Heavenly Demon slyly asked, “What are you doing?”
“As you can see, just sitting here.”
“I’m bored. Want to chat?”
“I’m not bored.”
Ignoring me, the Heavenly Demon continued, “What did I ask earlier? Oh right, if I could teach you dark arts. What kind do you want to learn?”
When I didn’t respond, he started pestering me in earnest.
“What is it? What kind of dark arts do you want to learn?”
I pretended not to hear. The Heavenly Demon began to get frustrated.
He started cursing and threatening, but I remained steadfast, acting as if I heard nothing.
“Please, just tell me!”
Finally, he resorted to pleading. I knew it wouldn’t be long now.
“I told you, it’s fine if I don’t learn. It’s nothing important, so don’t worry about it.”
That was sure to rile him up even more.
Eventually, like a fish taking the bait, he leapt into the net of his own accord.
“Fine! I’ll teach you! I’ll teach you!”
“Really? You’ll teach me?”
“Yes, I’ll teach you, damn it.”
“Do you swear on the honor of the Heavenly Demon?”
“Why would I stake my honor on something like this?”
“Then forget it.”
“Damn it!”
In the end, the Heavenly Demon threw up his hands in defeat.
“Damn it! Fine, I swear on my honor. I’ll teach you, you stubborn fool! But not the Blood Thunder Heaven Art or the Blood Thunder Heart Technique!”
“Of course not. Do you think I’d ask for your secret techniques? I’m not that shameless.”
“What kind of dark arts do you want to learn, then? The Death Blade Technique? Sometimes using a blade instead of a sword can be refreshing. Or maybe the Black Stream Dark King Bullet? You’ve experienced that one. Remember when I fired thirty-three hidden weapons after summoning the Black Mist? How did you dodge that? Tell me someday. Or should I teach you a martial art? The Soul Destroying Seven Fists could take down all the fist users in your sect. Look, you’re so weak, there’s no end to what you need to learn.”
As the Heavenly Demon rambled on excitedly, I mentioned a single name.
“The Demon God’s Secret.”
Silence fell over my mind, which had been buzzing with chatter.
“You crazy fool.”
He muttered under his breath and fell silent. I had expected this reaction, so I said nothing.
The manor was bustling with activity.
The front and back courtyards, as well as every room in the building, were filled with guests.
Today, a gathering of merchants from the Hubei region was taking place here. Over a hundred merchants, centered around twenty or so large and small trading companies, had gathered.
Drinking parties were set up throughout the manor, with people gathered in groups, chatting away. Deals that had been postponed were finalized, and unexpected private conversations took place.
Into this lively scene walked a lone elderly man with white hair, escorted by another old man.
Merchants who recognized him greeted him respectfully.
“Master Cheng! It’s been a while!”
“Nice to meet you, Chief!”
“It’s an honor to meet you!”
People rushed to greet the old man.
He was none other than Cheng Wangbo, the head of the Central Plains Merchants’ Union and the leader of the Continental Trading Company. He had hosted the Golden Grand Banquet and had recently visited the old man in the cave.
Cheng Wangbo exchanged greetings with the merchants as he entered the building.
Each room was filled with merchants drinking.
Cheng Wangbo made his rounds, exchanging brief greetings.
Everyone stood and bowed, showing their respect. Some were even moved to tears. Such was the respect and joy many felt in meeting him.
After making his rounds, he entered a room at the end of the corridor.
Here, too, a dozen merchants sat around a large round table, drinking and laughing.
Cheng Wangbo closed the door and took a seat. The martial artist who had been escorting him stood guard at the door.
He took his place at the table.
“It’s been a while.”
Surprisingly, Cheng Wangbo was the first to greet them politely.
The dozen or so people in the room changed their demeanor. They were no longer just merchants laughing and chatting; they were now members of a secret organization.
“How have you been?”
They all bowed and greeted Cheng Wangbo. There was no sign of the respect or joy they had shown earlier. They seemed to be on equal footing with Cheng Wangbo, who was considered a representative of the Central Plains business world.
Cheng Wangbo’s gaze settled on a man directly across from him.
Cheng Wangbo spoke to him as if reporting.
“He has requested our help.”
The man was a ruggedly handsome figure, the leader of this gathering, known as the Dark Merchant King. Though over sixty, he looked like he was in his forties.
The Dark Merchant King was elected every five years, and he had held the position for twenty years, having been re-elected four times due to his exceptional abilities.
“Typical of him.”
He had recently sent Cheng Wangbo to warn him after losing several subordinates. Yet, instead of exercising restraint, he had directly asked for help. He was never one to listen to them.
Cheng Wangbo spoke calmly.
“The opponent seems formidable.”
A plump man sitting next to the Dark Merchant King spoke up.
“Every enemy in the world seems formidable.”
His quick speech was flippant, but the sharp eyes above his chubby cheeks showed he was no ordinary person.
In fact, none of the merchants present were ordinary.
They weren’t widely known or at the top of the business world. They owned small trading companies or a few shops, appearing to be ordinary merchants.
But they had amassed immense wealth in the shadows. They were, in essence, the rulers of the underground business world.
The Dark Merchant King asked again.
“What kind of help does he want from us?”
“He wants us to kill someone imprisoned in the Martial Alliance’s prison.”
“He can’t handle that on his own?”
Cheng Wangbo remained silent, as if it was beyond his concern.
The plump man spoke again.
“It seems to be because of the incident where we sent Chief Cheng down. Isn’t it just a way of saying, ‘Stop nagging and give us money’?”
Some men chuckled, while others looked displeased. The reactions varied, but they all agreed with the sentiment.
It would have been a shocking moment for an outsider to witness. Cheng Wangbo, a representative of the Central Plains business world, was being referred to as just a chief.
“Isn’t it time to change the sword?”
The plump man trailed off, watching the Dark Merchant King’s reaction.
Cheng Wangbo sat calmly, but he was tense inside. The outcome of this decision would completely change the landscape.
The Dark Merchant King asked Cheng Wangbo.
“What do you think?”
“He’s not a sword we can easily discard just because we want to. You know that.”
“I know. That’s why we chose him. But we can’t keep carrying a useless sword, can we?”
“Swords become dull with use. Think of this as an opportunity to sharpen it on a whetstone and give him another chance. Considering the money he’s brought in, I think he deserves another opportunity.”
The Dark Merchant King’s deliberation was brief.
“I’ll follow your judgment.”
It was a subtle way of shifting responsibility, but Cheng Wangbo had anticipated this response.
However, they wouldn’t be able to dismiss him even if this mission failed. The financial matters were too complex, and there were parts only he could handle.
Instead, they’d make a big deal out of not holding him accountable.
“Send the ghosts.”
“Thank you.”
Cheng Wangbo stood and left the room.
As he watched Cheng Wangbo’s retreating figure, the plump man muttered quietly.
“When you change the sword, you change the scabbard too.”
He was suggesting they replace Cheng Wangbo as well. He was displeased with Cheng Wangbo’s support of the old man.
Everyone subtly nodded, looking at the Dark Merchant King.
They were all on edge due to the old man’s repeated failures. The failures didn’t just end as failures. Continuing the halted research, recruiting experts, and rebuilding the organization required a massive amount of money.
They had joined forces with the old man to make money, but if the money kept flowing out?
The Dark Merchant King had always been focused on securing their profits. That’s how he had maintained his position for twenty years.
But he didn’t reveal his thoughts. He raised his glass.
“Let’s drink.”
Everyone quickly raised their glasses.
Soon, the room was as lively as any other.
“Where did you even hear about the Demon God’s Secret?”
There was an unusual tension in the Heavenly Demon’s voice, different from mere anger.
But I treated him as I always did.
“It’s not that big of a secret, is it? If you don’t want to tell me, just say so.”
When I responded casually, he reverted to his usual self.
“You crazy fool! Do you even know what the Demon God’s Secret is?”
“That’s why I’m asking you to teach me.”
The Demon God’s Secret.
There’s a legendary saying passed down in the Blood Heaven Cult:
“If you unravel the Demon God’s Secret, you can master the greatest martial arts of all time and even become a Demon God.”
Yet, none of the past Heavenly Demons of the Blood Heaven Cult had ever unlocked its mystery.
It was a legend, so no one knew if it was true or false. Some past Heavenly Demons even claimed it was a hoax.
Having lived as the leader of the martial world for many years, I had heard of the Demon God’s Secret.
But I didn’t know if it was a martial arts manual, some other message, or a puzzle to be solved.
Only the Heavenly Demon would know. The Demon God’s Secret was said to be passed down only from one Heavenly Demon to the next within the Blood Heaven Cult.
Judging by his reaction, he clearly believed in the legend of the Demon God’s Secret. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reacted so seriously.
“Promises are meant to be broken by people like you. Understand?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You swore on the honor of the Heavenly Demon to tell me, didn’t you?”
“You fool! That’s it!”
“You promised to teach me everything except for the Blood Thunder Heavenly Art and the Blood Thunder Heart Technique.”
“This is an exception!”
“Enough. I understand.”
“Damn it!”
After a long silence, the Heavenly Demon spoke again.
“Even if I told you, it would be useless. I was born and raised in this cult and couldn’t solve it. You won’t either.”
I didn’t respond.
“It’s useless for you!”
“I get it. I admit this trap was unfair.”
“What?”
“Asking you to reveal the Demon God’s Secret was unfair. I admit it.”
“What are you plotting now?”
“I never expected you to tell me in the first place. I was just curious if it really existed. Now that I know it does, my curiosity is satisfied.”
“Damn. I feel like I’ve been had.”
Honestly, I was curious about the contents of the Demon God’s Secret. But this wasn’t something I could uncover with tricks. Despite his seemingly easygoing demeanor, the Heavenly Demon wasn’t someone to be trifled with.
When he mentioned that even he, raised in the cult, couldn’t solve the secret, a thought crossed my mind.
Maybe that’s why it remains unsolved.
The words he once said to me echoed in my mind.
You’re trapped in a box.
Perhaps he was, too.
Suddenly, I had that thought.
“Teach me another martial art, then.”
There was a martial art I had always wanted to learn.
“Which one?”
“I want to see you in person.”
“What?”
The Heavenly Demon was taken aback.
“I mean, I want to meet you face-to-face, not just hear your voice in my mind.”