Chapter 90 – Heavenly Demon’s Disciple (12)
“Ugh…”
“Nnngh…”
One by one, the Nine Dragons and Five Phoenixes—whom I’d knocked out—began to regain consciousness.
I thought Fist Dragon, with his broken arm, would hold the biggest grudge… but instead—
“I’m going to splint your arm now. It’ll hurt a lot.”
“I’m ready.”
Squeeze.
While Beauty Phoenix pressed a splint against his broken arm, Fist Dragon wore a blissfully stupid smile.
It must hurt like hell, but he was enduring it through the power of love.
No wonder she never carries money.
Now I understood why she didn’t bring a wallet and why she never spent money on men.
Meanwhile, Blade Dragon glared at Fist Dragon—receiving treatment from Beauty Phoenix—with obvious irritation, pacing around them like someone with emotional instability.
Eventually—
“Fist Dragon, what’s so funny about a broken arm? Your master, the Fist King, would lament this shame.”
The Fist King—Fist Dragon’s master.
In the world of <Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?>, that was the title given to the strongest boxer in the martial world.
Since Blade Dragon brought up his master, Fist Dragon didn’t stay quiet.
“Spoken like someone who depends on weapons. Bones grow stronger after they’re broken.”
“Or maybe yours are weak because they break so often?”
“That’s still better than someone who’s never seen the sky above the sky.”
“Fist Dragon, can you even go to the outhouse alone with that arm?”
“I’m not worried enough to listen to someone who can’t even draw a sword properly with two good arms.”
A crackle of murderous tension filled the air.
The two men glared at each other, pride the only thing left in their heads.
Did this happen often?
Beauty Phoenix quietly slipped out from between them, and Sword Phoenix and Poison Dragon watched from afar like it was routine.
“…We should go.”
We had wasted too much time treating Fist Dragon’s broken arm.
“Young Master Kang, why are you suddenly speaking politely?”
Sword Phoenix, sporting a fresh bump on her forehead, teased me.
“You unhappy about that?”
“Not unhappy. Just thinking… men really are all the same when a young pretty woman is around.”
She glanced at Beauty Phoenix.
Understanding what she implied, I chuckled.
“A man with a girlfriend prettier than you has no reason to impress other women. It’s just basic courtesy. Not that someone who looks down on both the weak and men would understand.”
“Maybe. But someone who looks down on all martial artists—like the Heavenly Demon’s grandson—shouldn’t be talking.”
The Heavenly Demon.
The protagonist’s master.
The strongest existence in the world of <Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?> His power was equivalent to a natural disaster.
…Please tell me Mao Zai didn’t possess the Heavenly Demon’s body.
The thought alone was horrifying.
“You seem upset that I’m treating you like a person. Do you function properly in daily life?”
“That’s why Sword Phoenix has no men around her.”
Poison Dragon slipped close like an assassin and jabbed lightly.
“What do you mean, no men?!”
“You can’t deny it. I’ve watched for five years.”
“Kk—!”
Unable to refute Poison Dragon, Sword Phoenix trembled in anger.
Entertaining bunch.
The Nine Dragons and Five Phoenixes were lively in the novel too, but seeing them in person… they really lived like youth should.
Had I not realized Song Sun-young’s feelings for me, I might have been quite jealous of their camaraderie.
But now, I felt peaceful.
“Young Master Kang, what’s with that expression?”
“What about it?”
“You’re not looking at us like weaklings… more like how my brother looked at our lonely grandfather after getting married last year.”
“Ah. Then yes, it’s not your imagination.”
“You really don’t know how to be considerate!”
“Is that necessary?”
I had no reason to impress girls other than Song Sun-young.
Especially not people who would vanish the moment I woke up from this dream.
Right then, Beauty Phoenix—walking close behind me—spoke up.
“We’re actually on our way to watch the Sichuan Martial Tournament.”
“Oh! It’s already that time, huh.”
Since I’d experienced it indirectly through the novel, I naturally pretended to know.
The Sichuan Martial Tournament.
A competition only for martial artists belonging to clans and sects in the Sichuan region of the Central Plains.
The major forces:
Tang Family of Sichuan
Emei Sect
Dian Cang Sect
Qingcheng Sect
These were the elite factions representing Sichuan.
Even making it through preliminaries was considered impressive for minor branches or offshoots.
Basically, their own exclusive league.
“Then Poison Dragon from the Tang Family must be participating?”
Poison Dragon gave a bitter smile as my gaze fell on him.
“We’re actually going to cheer for my older brother—the one known as the Poison King.”
“Ah!”
In <Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?>, the Poison King dies because he dared love Beauty Phoenix—who was basically already “marked” by the protagonist.
But the fact that he was still alive now meant—
Did the story change?
Or is this simply before the protagonist ‘marked’ her?
Either way, it was something worth investigating to track down Mao Zai.
So I asked the most relevant witness directly.
“Beauty Phoenix, have you ever met the Heavenly Demon’s disciple?”
“Oh my! Are you curious about your grandfather’s disciple?”
“Of course.”
“Yes, I met him. His arrogance pierced the sky itself. He told me it would be my honor to bear the strongest child for him. What utter nonsense.”
“…Huh?”
A line that never existed in the original novel.
The protagonist definitely had a flirtatious streak, but he always maintained gentlemanly behavior.
Something’s off.
From her words, it sounded like Mao Zai had possessed the protagonist’s body…
But based on everything I knew, Mao Zai was a gentleman of the highest caliber—almost identical to the protagonist in temperament.
That was why he loved this novel: he empathized deeply and found vicarious satisfaction.
But this behavior…
“And it still makes me furious! If only I’d been a bit stronger, I would’ve chopped off that bastard Soma for treating women like livestock!”
Sword Phoenix—the man-hating one—lamented her weakness for failing to slice off the protagonist’s… reproductive organs.
Soma (Little Demon).
The nickname given to the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.
But this raised another issue.
The timeline is off.
Soma is only called that after he defeats the Poison King and several other top experts.
Before that, his mysterious, secretive behavior meant almost no one even knew he was the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.
“Sword Phoenix, just to warn you, you should stop now. He said next time he won’t stop at cutting your clothes.”
Poison Dragon tried to calm her down.
“Cut… clothes?”
But then I heard something I couldn’t ignore.
“That’s right. Even though Beauty Phoenix was the one insulted…”
“So I was supposed to just stand there?! That was an insult to all women!”
She glared at Poison Dragon, who refused to budge.
“Die and it’s over.”
“What, are you defending Soma because you’re both men?”
“That’s an insult.”
“But it’s true you just stood there, isn’t it?”
“……”
Poison Dragon shut his mouth tightly, done arguing with Sword Phoenix.
Either way—
“I wonder… can I cut only a woman’s clothes like the protagonist does?”
I was thinking about the protagonist’s combat ability.
Given Sword Phoenix’s personality, there’s no way she would’ve stayed still after being insulted.
Yet the protagonist managed to slice only her clothes without leaving a single scratch?
That was a level of skill I couldn’t possibly imitate.
“The Heavenly Demon’s disciple must be incredibly strong.”
“Yes. But Young Master Kang, you’re hardly ordinary either—you defeated us easily.”
“Hm…”
Beauty Phoenix flashed a curved, crescent-moon smile—playful and alluring—as she complimented me.
Naturally, Sword Dragon and Fist Dragon didn’t look pleased.
“Haa…”
“…Sigh.”
I could even hear the depressed sighs—the kind that made you want to pat their shoulders and say, “Let’s hang in there together.”
Hang in there, brothers.
I won’t be able to relax either until I overpower Prince Leon of the neighboring kingdom.
***
The protagonist’s changed behavior.
Just like Kim Eun-jung—who possessed the heroine in I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count Family—
It was becoming very likely that Mao Zai had possessed the protagonist’s body in this world too.
This isn’t coincidence.
My starting location was a road not far from the city hosting the Sichuan Martial Tournament.
And that tournament draws countless strong martial artists—not only participants, but people seeking experience and connections.
The timing fits perfectly.
Mao Zai, being obsessed with martial arts, would never miss this golden opportunity.
Anyway…
“At long last, I can finally eat a proper meal.”
With Beauty Phoenix’s help, I claimed the reward money at the government office, then sold the bandit’s crescent blades to a blacksmith.
Everything else—random junk—got sold at something like a pawn shop.
Clink!
Every time I shook the pouch, my favorite sound rang out.
“Young Master Kang, how about getting some new clothes first?”
“Hm… fair enough.”
Beauty Phoenix helped me navigate the bureaucratic nonsense and sell everything smoothly.
My heart wanted to sprint straight toward the market filled with food stalls,
But listening to her advice had never harmed me so far—so I followed her this time too.
“We’re here!”
“…That place looks expensive.”
The clothing shop she brought me to was filled with silk outfits on display.
“I’ll buy it for you.”
“I thought you said you had no money?”
A lie?
“I don’t have money. But I can get clothes in exchange for promoting them.”
“Ah!”
Like how celebrities or models get sponsored clothing.
“And if they refuse?”
“Then I’ll simply switch my go-to shop in Sichuan to a different boutique. I don’t think the owner here would be foolish enough to refuse me.”
“Fair point…”
In the novel <Is This Heavenly Demon for Real?>, Beauty Phoenix always acted like a naïve girl sheltered from the world.
But her real personality was the exact opposite.
“Hello!”
“Oh my! Lady Murong! Please, come in!”
The shop owner lady burst out excitedly the moment she met Beauty Phoenix’s eyes.
“I’d like to find something that suits this young master.”
“Oh? A gift for the young master beside you?”
“Yes.”
“…I have just the thing. A pair set—two matching outfits.”
“A pair?”
“Hehe! A gift because I hope things go well for you two. And I’d appreciate it if you’d consider purchasing your wedding trousseau from here too.”
“D-don’t tease me like that…”
“How is it?”
“…I’ll take it.”
“Hoho! Just wait a moment.”
I quietly watched the situation unfold. Judging by the tone, it sounded like she was about to get some ridiculously expensive silk outfits for me under the label of a gift.
Another freebie…
I shouldn’t like freebies.
There is no such thing as a free lunch!
But if I kept looking like a beggar, I’d attract even bigger trouble.
So just this once, I decided to let it slide.
Flutter—
I wiped off the dirt from my body with a wet towel, then changed into the white silk robe the shopkeeper recommended.
Flowers… peonies, maybe?
If it weren’t free, I would never have worn this.
“Oh my! It suits you perfectly.”
“Thank y—”
The moment I turned my head toward the voice, the rest of my words got stuck in my throat.
“Young Master Kang, what do you think?”
Flaaap—flaaap—
Beauty Phoenix spun lightly on the spot, showing off her outfit.
The white silk robe decorated with blooming peonies, along with her jade hairpin, made her beauty shine even more brightly.
“…It looks good on you.”
“Thank you. Makes the trip worthwhile.”
“How much is the total?”
“It’s fine. But if you really feel bothered, you can just keep wearing it during your stay in Sichuan.”
“…Alright.”
We left the clothing shop without paying a single coin.
“Come visit again~”
The shopkeeper waved with a delighted smile—clearly unconcerned about any monetary loss.
So it really was sponsorship?
This was the first time I’d ever received a brand-new outfit for free.
As someone who’d never experienced this before, it felt surreal.
Models must have it good…
Even if I succeed in life, the only sponsorships I’d ever get would be swimsuits or athletic gear.
Truly an unfair world.
“Can we head to the market now?”
“Yes. I know a great restaurant nearby run by an excellent chef, but Young Master Kang seems to prefer lively street stalls.”
“It’s not that. They’re just cheap, so I like them better.”
“Oh! My apologies. It seems I misunderstood.”
“It’s alri—HEY, YOU LITTLE—!”
Whack!
I kicked away the hand of a middle-aged man trying to snatch my precious money pouch.
“Grk?!”
“You must be craving the afterlife, old man…!”
Ever since I started working part-time at a convenience store, the type of person I hated most were petty thieves.
Small items like candy were hard to notice going missing until inventory time, so the owner scolded me often.
“W-wait!”
“Shut it!”
Ignoring his desperate plea—
Crack!
I launched a clean spinning back kick to his jaw, sending him into the air, then smashed my heel down onto his face.
“……”
The man lay unconscious, face covered in blood, not moving an inch.
“Um… Young Master Kang?”
“He’s fine. I didn’t kill him.”
“That’s not what I meant… This thief—he’s someone I know.”
“Hm?”
“He’s Senior Fist King, the man who unified the Green Forest with his bare fists. He’s sworn brothers with my grandfather, so I saw him often growing up.”
“…Must be disappointing. A ‘Fist King’ resorting to pickpocketing.”
“What? Ah… yes, I guess so?”
“Let’s go.”
“I meant—he’s not someone we can just leave lying in the street…”
“Hm. I understand.”
I didn’t like it, but what choice did I have?
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I grabbed the Fist King by the arm and dragged him along the ground toward the restaurant.