Chapter 69:The Devil returns to The Demonic Cult

The entire Unorthodox Murim knelt before him.

The arena was still stained red with blood.

The corpse of the Blood Demon no longer existed—not even ashes remained. The man who had dreamed of conquering Murim had been erased so completely that it was as if he had never existed in the first place.

And the one standing amidst that sea of destruction...

Was Lucifer.

His black clothes were torn.

His body was covered in countless wounds.

Blood dripped from his fingers.

Yet no one dared to look him in the eyes.

Sect leaders, nobles, elders, and warriors—all of them lowered their heads.

A monster had been born.

A devil who hunted down every participant in the tournament, slaughtered the Four Kings, annihilated the Eighteen Strongholds, and finally killed the Blood Demon himself.

The Unorthodox Murim had no choice.

They submitted.

"Long live the Lord of the Unorthodox Murim!"

One voice shouted.

Soon thousands followed.

"Long live the Lord!"

"Long live the Devil!"

"Long live Lord Lucifer!"

The entire arena trembled from their voices.

Yet...

Lucifer looked utterly dissatisfied.

He stared at the kneeling crowd as if he had stepped on something unpleasant.

Then he sighed.

"This is wrong."

The sudden statement confused everyone.

Beside him, the princess blinked.

"What is wrong?"

Lucifer looked around.

The throne.

The kneeling people.

The riches.

The power.

Everything.

"Everything."

He frowned.

"I shouldn't even be here."

The princess looked as if she had heard the stupidest thing imaginable.

"Are you serious? You just became the ruler of the entire Unorthodox Murim! People would kill for this position."

Lucifer looked at her.

Then he laughed.

"You don't get it."

He slowly walked toward the throne.

His fingers touched its golden armrest.

"It doesn't matter whether a cage is made of iron, gold, or emeralds."

He turned around.

"It will still remain a cage."

The entire place fell silent.

Lucifer's crimson eyes looked toward the distant sky.

"And for a bird like me..."

He smiled.

"It is suffocating."

For once...

The princess didn't know what to say.

This man had everything.

Power.

Authority.

Fear.

Respect.

Yet...

He wanted none of it.

She suddenly realized something.

This man truly was different.

Perhaps that was why he could become the Devil.

Because no chains could bind him.

Not even power itself.

Still, she sighed.

"Unfortunately for you, these people have already accepted you as their lord. I don't think they will let you leave that easily."

Lucifer suddenly looked at her.

Then he grinned.

"Then you become their lord."

Silence.

The princess blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

He pointed toward the throne.

"Sit there."

The princess looked horrified.

"Absolutely not!"

"Why?"

"Because they won't listen to me!"

She pointed at the kneeling warriors.

"They only respect strength! They worship power! Why would they ever follow me?"

Lucifer thought for a moment.

Then he snapped his fingers.

"Simple."

"What?"

"You become my wife."

Silence.

The world seemed to freeze.

The princess's brain stopped working.

"W...what?"

Lucifer spoke with telepathy.

"Just act as my wife."

The princess's face became completely red.

"W-W-WIFE?!"

"Yes."

He nodded.

"If they think you're my wife, no one will dare disrespect you. You can rule this place easily."

"Oh..."

She lowered her head.

"Act..."

A strange disappointment appeared in her eyes.

"I thought..."

Lucifer blinked.

"Thought what?"

"N-Nothing!"

She immediately turned away.

Chirin looked at her.

Then at Lucifer.

Then sighed.

This idiot.

Lucifer didn't notice anything.

Instead, he continued speaking.

"Besides, becoming the leader of the Unorthodox Murim will make it easier for you to take revenge."

The princess froze.

Slowly...

She looked at him.

"What did you say?"

Lucifer sat on the throne.

He looked at her as if he could see through her soul.

"Oh, please."

"Don't pretend."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"You think I don't know?"

Silence.

Lucifer crossed his legs.

"You were sent here by your own family."

The princess's expression changed.

"They wanted you to become the Blood Demon's concubine."

Silence.

Her fists trembled.

Lucifer continued mercilessly.

"You're beautiful."

"You're intelligent."

"You're more capable than your useless older brother."

"But because you were born second..."

He smiled coldly.

"And because you're a woman..."

"They sold you."

Her breathing stopped.

Lucifer's words stabbed deeper than any sword.

Political marriage.

Alliance.

Royal duty.

Those were the pretty words people used.

But deep down...

She knew.

He was right.

They had sold her.

Just like an object.

Just like merchandise.

The princess bit her lips.

"Could you..."

Her voice trembled.

"Could you stop saying sold?"

"It bothers me."

Lucifer burst into laughter.

"Kuhahahaha!"

"So what should I call it?"

"An arranged marriage?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You and I both know that's not true."

Silence.

Her eyes turned red.

Years of resentment.

Years of pain.

Years of pretending.

Everything broke.

Tears fell.

She cried.

She cried harder than she ever had.

She hated herself.

She hated her kingdom.

She hated her family.

Most of all...

She hated the fact that every word Lucifer said was true.

Chirin immediately pointed.

"Look."

"You made her cry."

Lucifer shrugged.

"Like I care."

Then he laughed.

The princess looked up.

"You..."

Sniff.

"You are the worst."

Lucifer nodded proudly.

"I know."

After a while...

She calmed down.

Lucifer looked at her.

"So?"

She glared.

"Can't you be a little sympathetic?"

Lucifer thought.

Then shook his head.

"No."

"Why?!"

"Because if you divide the word sympathetic..."

He grinned.

"It becomes simp and pathetic."

"I am neither."

"Kuhahahaha!"

The princess stared at him.

How could someone be this unbearable?

And yet...

Somehow...

She didn't hate him.

Because unlike everyone else...

He didn't pity her.

He simply saw the truth.

After a while, Lucifer stood.

"So."

"Have you thought about my proposal?"

She remained silent.

Then...

She took a deep breath.

"Fine."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"I'll do it."

"What?"

"I'll become the leader of the Unorthodox Murim."

Her eyes changed.

No longer a victim.

No longer a discarded princess.

There was ambition.

And anger.

"I'll make this place mine."

"I'll become stronger."

"And one day..."

Her fists tightened.

"I'll make my family regret everything."

Lucifer smiled.

"That's the spirit."

He walked toward the throne.

Then he grabbed her hand.

And placed her upon it.

The entire hall gasped.

She was now sitting on the throne of the Unorthodox Murim.

Lucifer nodded.

"Good."

Then he turned around.

"Bye."

"Wait!"

He looked back.

"Now what?"

She looked flustered.

"Shouldn't you... say something?"

"What?"

"They won't believe me if you don't!"

Lucifer shrugged.

"After what I did today, nobody will question you."

He started walking.

Then she spoke again.

"Wait."

He sighed.

"What now?"

She looked at him.

"You don't even know my name."

Lucifer blinked.

"Oh."

"Right."

"What is your name?"

The princess almost fell from the throne.

After everything...

He was asking now?!

Even Chirin sighed.

"That's Lucifer for you."

The princess rubbed her forehead.

"My name is Yu Ming."

"Everyone calls me Yu—"

"I'll call you Ming."

Silence.

Her eyes widened.

Lucifer smiled.

"Take care of yourself, Ming."

Then he turned around.

For some reason...

A warmth appeared in her chest.

A tiny smile appeared on her lips.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

She was happy.

"Don't worry... husband."

She smiled.

"I'll use your name well."

"Hehehe..."

Far away...

Lucifer suddenly stopped walking.

A chill ran down his spine.

He looked behind him.

"Someone is talking about me."

Chirin crossed his arms.

"You've killed so many people."

"Maybe someone's cursing you."

Lucifer laughed.

"If curses could kill me..."

"I would've died long ago."

They continued walking.

Then Chirin looked back.

"Do you think she can handle everything?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"Don't know."

Chirin immediately grabbed his collar.

"THEN WHY DID YOU LEAVE HER THERE?!"

"Dude!"

Lucifer tried to remove his hands.

"Why do you always grab my collar?!"

"I gave her power."

"How she uses it is her choice."

"Hehehe."

"YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!"

Suddenly—

"You're really the worst."

A crimson slash descended.

BOOOOOM!

Lucifer disappeared.

The attack exploded behind him.

He had dodged using Sin of Sloth.

When he looked forward...

He saw a young woman.

Long red hair.

Crimson clothes.

Golden eyes.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

And furious.

Lucifer blinked.

Then asked,

"Are you the Blood Demon's illegitimate daughter?"

Silence.

Veins appeared on the girl's forehead.

"I'm Elizabeth."

"And who I am..."

Her aura exploded.

"Won't matter to you anymore."

She attacked.

Lucifer immediately used Sin of Envy.

Nothing.

No thoughts.

Nothing.

His eyes narrowed.

Impossible.

No one his age could block Envy.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

He smiled.

Then grabbed Chirin.

"Cleave."

A crimson slash erupted.

Elizabeth attacked simultaneously.

Just as both attacks were about to collide—

CLANG!

A single sword blocked both.

Lucifer blinked.

Elizabeth froze.

Standing between them...

Was a man wearing black robes.

Sword hanging at his waist.

Long hair.

Calm eyes.

The Sword Demon.

"That's enough."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Even Elizabeth stepped back.

Lucifer grinned.

"You've become even stronger."

The Sword Demon smiled.

"And you've become quite troublesome."

Lucifer looked at him.

"But not enough to intimidate you."

The Sword Demon laughed.

"Not yet."

Then he sighed.

"I'm here under the Cult Leader's orders."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"I figured."

"You wouldn't leave his side unless he personally ordered it."

He pointed at Elizabeth.

"But who is this reckless child?"

"What did you say?!"

The Sword Demon coughed.

"She's..."

"The Heavenly Demon's daughter."

Silence.

Lucifer froze.

He looked at Elizabeth.

Then looked at the Sword Demon.

Then back.

"What?"

"That guy has a daughter?!"

The Sword Demon burst into laughter.

Elizabeth looked like she wanted to kill him.

Elizabeth's veins bulged on her forehead.

"What did you say?"

Lucifer looked at her once again.

Then at the Sword Demon.

Then back at her.

"No seriously... the Heavenly Demon has a daughter?"

Elizabeth's face turned red with anger.

"WHY DO YOU LOOK SO SHOCKED?!"

Lucifer scratched his head.

"I don't know. I just never imagined that guy having a child."

Sword Demon burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! I finally understand why the Cult Leader likes you so much."

Elizabeth looked between the two of them.

Her anger only grew.

Her entire life she had heard stories about this person.

The Devil.

Lucifer Morningstar.

The monster who caused chaos wherever he went.

The man her father praised countless times.

Every time she achieved something, the Heavenly Demon would simply smile and say:

'Good. But Lucifer would have done something more outrageous.'

At first, she had been curious.

Then annoyed.

Eventually...

She hated him.

And now, after finally meeting him...

He didn't even know she existed.

She wanted to punch him.

No.

She wanted to kill him.

Sword Demon finally stopped laughing.

"Now, now. This isn't the place to talk."

He pointed toward the horizon.

"The Cult Leader is waiting."

Lucifer frowned.

"I was planning on returning later."

Sword Demon shook his head.

"He personally summoned you."

Lucifer's expression changed slightly.

The Heavenly Demon wasn't someone who summoned people for trivial matters.

If he called...

Something was happening.

Lucifer sighed.

"Fine."

Sword Demon smiled.

Then he whistled.

A loud cry echoed through the mountains.

The next moment...

A gigantic peacock descended from the sky.

Its feathers glowed with countless colors, and its wings were so large that they covered the moonlight.

Lucifer stared at it.

Then looked at Sword Demon.

"I thought you'd summon a terrifying dragon or something."

Sword Demon climbed onto the peacock.

"And attract the attention of every sect in Murim?"

He chuckled.

"No, thank you."

Elizabeth jumped onto the peacock.

Lucifer followed.

The peacock immediately took flight.

The wind roared.

The cities below looked like tiny toys.

Mountains became pebbles.

Rivers became silver lines.

For a while, nobody spoke.

Then Elizabeth suddenly exploded.

"Uncle!"

Sword Demon sighed.

"What now?"

"Why are you being so nice to him?!"

She pointed at Lucifer.

"And why does he speak about Father like they're equals?!"

Sword Demon smiled.

"Because your father gave him that right."

"What?!"

She looked horrified.

Lucifer looked equally horrified.

"He gave me that right?"

Sword Demon nodded.

"Personally."

Elizabeth looked like her entire world had shattered.

She was the daughter of the Heavenly Demon.

Even she didn't talk to him so casually.

Yet this guy...

Called him 'that guy.'

And her father allowed it.

She felt even more irritated.

Lucifer looked at her.

Then sighed.

"I can see how difficult it is for the Heavenly Demon to raise you."

Silence.

Elizabeth froze.

"What... did you just say?"

Sword Demon immediately nodded.

"Exactly."

He looked exhausted.

"She's been like this since childhood."

"UNCLE!"

He ignored her.

"Her mother died when she was still very young."

Elizabeth became silent.

Sword Demon's expression softened.

"The Cult Leader made many enemies throughout his life."

"So he hid her."

"He kept her away from the mud and blood."

"He wanted her to live peacefully."

Elizabeth lowered her head.

Lucifer remained silent.

Sword Demon continued.

"Unfortunately..."

He smiled bitterly.

"She's inherited his stubbornness."

"HEY!"

The atmosphere lightened once again.

Lucifer looked at Sword Demon.

"If this is a secret, why are you telling me?"

Sword Demon looked at him.

"Because he trusts you."

Silence.

Lucifer looked away.

"Trusting the Devil isn't a good idea."

Sword Demon simply smiled.

No matter what Lucifer said...

The Heavenly Demon trusted him.

And so did he.

After a while, Lucifer spoke.

"So why did he summon me so early?"

Sword Demon shrugged.

"That..."

"He'll tell you personally."

The peacock continued flying.

Eventually...

A gigantic mountain range appeared.

Countless fortresses covered the peaks.

Flags bearing the symbol of the Demonic Cult fluttered in the night.

The Demonic Palace.

The heart of the Demonic Cult.

The home of monsters.

The peacock slowly landed.

The moment Lucifer stepped down...

Hundreds of eyes fell upon him.

Experts.

Everywhere.

Their auras alone could shake kingdoms.

Yet Lucifer wasn't scared.

He smiled.

His blood boiled.

Excitement surged through him.

Monsters.

So many monsters.

Sword Demon looked at him and sighed.

Look at this brat.

He knows he can't defeat any of these people.

Yet instead of being afraid...

He's excited.

Then Sword Demon remembered something.

He looked at his hand.

A small cut remained there.

The cut he had received while blocking Elizabeth and Lucifer's attacks.

His eyes narrowed.

If I hadn't interfered...

Elizabeth would have been in real danger.

This brat...

Has become terrifying.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was staring at Lucifer.

She couldn't understand him.

Everyone who entered the Demonic Palace became nervous.

Even kings and emperors feared this place.

Yet Lucifer looked as if he had entered an amusement park.

He was even grinning.

A lunatic.

He was an absolute lunatic.

They began walking.

The deeper they went...

The stronger the presences became.

Protectors.

The Great Evils.

Every monster of the Demonic Cult was watching him.

Some were curious.

Some were impressed.

Some wanted to test him.

And some...

Wanted to kill him.

But Lucifer ignored all of them.

He simply kept walking.

Finally...

The palace doors opened.

Creak.

A gigantic hall appeared.

At the end of it...

Upon a black throne...

Sat one man.

Long black hair.

Golden eyes.

An aura so vast that it felt like standing before heaven itself.

The Heavenly Demon.

Even after becoming an Emperor.

Even after killing the Blood Demon.

Even after conquering the Unorthodox Murim.

Lucifer still felt it.

Pressure.

Not fear.

Just the realization that the person before him...

Was monstrously powerful.

Silence filled the hall.

The Heavenly Demon looked at him.

Lucifer looked back.

Neither spoke.

The entire palace seemed frozen.

Then...

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

"You really made quite a lot of noise outside."

Lucifer grinned.

"And you still heard it from all the way here."

The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

"How could I not?"

"You killed the Blood Demon."

"You conquered the Unorthodox Murim."

"You even made my daughter draw her sword against you within minutes of meeting her."

Elizabeth's face turned red.

"Father!"

The Heavenly Demon ignored her.

He looked at Lucifer.

"I leave you alone for a few months and you turn the entire Jianghu upside down."

Lucifer shrugged.

"It wasn't intentional."

Everyone in the palace looked at him as if he were insane.

Not intentional?

Half of Murim wanted him dead.

The other half feared him.

And he called that unintentional?

The Heavenly Demon laughed loudly.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Only you could say something like that."

Then...

His expression slowly became serious.

The smile disappeared.

The atmosphere changed.

Every monster in the hall lowered their heads.

Even Elizabeth became silent.

Lucifer narrowed his eyes.

Something was wrong.

The Heavenly Demon looked directly at him.

"Lucifer."

For the first time since arriving...

He called his name seriously.

"I didn't summon you because of the Blood Demon."

"I didn't summon you because of the Unorthodox Murim."

"I summoned you because..."

His golden eyes darkened.

"A storm is coming."

Silence.

Even the air became heavy.

Lucifer smiled.

"What kind of storm?"

The Heavenly Demon looked outside the palace.

Toward the endless darkness.

And for the first time in a long time...

There was caution in his eyes.

"The kind of storm..."

"That can drown the entire Murim."

The entire hall became deathly silent.

But instead of being worried...

Instead of being afraid...

Lucifer smiled.

Then he laughed.

"Hehehe..."

"Hehehehehe..."

"KUHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Everyone looked at him.

The Heavenly Demon sighed.

As expected.

This lunatic was actually excited.

Lucifer's crimson eyes glowed.

At long last...

Another adventure was beginning.