Chapter 87:The Black Cup

Lucifer woke to a peaceful morning.

No war horns.

No collapsing mountains.

No rivers running red.

Only the gentle breeze flowing through the Demonic Cult.

The streets were already alive.

Merchants arranged their stalls.

Blacksmiths hammered glowing steel.

Children chased one another between alleyways.

Restaurants overflowed with the aroma of freshly cooked food.

Unlike the Murim Alliance, where every passing day was overshadowed by fear of invasion, the Demonic Cult carried an entirely different atmosphere.

Their people smiled.

They laughed.

They lived boldly, as though tomorrow did not exist.

Lucifer slowly walked through the bustling streets with one hand tucked inside his pocket.

The moment people recognized him...

The entire street erupted.

"Lord Lucifer!"

"The Devil is here!"

"Master Lucifer!"

A fruit vendor hurried over.

"Please accept these! They're freshly picked this morning!"

Before Lucifer could refuse, another merchant rushed over carrying an expensive bundle of silk.

"My Lord, please accept these robes!"

"They're woven from the finest spirit silk!"

Then came the restaurant owners.

"Lord Lucifer!"

"Our food is the best in the city!"

"Please visit us!"

Several young women giggled as they surrounded him.

One boldly grabbed his arm.

"Lord Lucifer, would you honor us with a drink?"

Another smiled mischievously.

"Just one cup of tea?"

A third wrapped both hands around his sleeve.

"You've become even more handsome after returning."

Lucifer blinked.

"..."

"What is this?"

Chirin burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"I never thought I'd see the Devil getting mobbed."

Lucifer sighed.

"...Being famous is troublesome."

After another few minutes of polite refusals...

He gave up.

"Sin of Sloth."

His figure blurred.

Before anyone realized what happened...

Lucifer had already disappeared from the crowded street.

Only disappointed voices remained.

"...He vanished..."

"So fast..."

Several streets away...

Lucifer reappeared atop a quiet stone bridge.

He dusted off his sleeve.

"There."

"Finally."

Chirin chuckled.

"I didn't think becoming a hero would annoy you this much."

Lucifer shrugged.

"Being feared is easier."

His destination wasn't a battlefield.

Nor the Demonic Palace.

Instead...

He stopped before one of the tallest buildings in the city.

A magnificent pavilion towered into the sky.

Elegant jade pillars supported its enormous structure.

Golden lanterns swayed gently beneath the roof.

Music drifted through the open windows.

The building overflowed with nobles, wealthy merchants, renowned martial artists, and influential figures from across Murim.

It was one of the Demonic Cult's most luxurious establishments.

Lucifer casually stepped inside.

The conversations immediately quieted.

Dozens of eyes followed him.

Some curious.

Some respectful.

Some fearful.

The waiter hurried over almost instantly.

He bowed deeply.

"Welcome, Lord Lucifer."

"How may I serve you today?"

Lucifer calmly sat down.

"Tea."

"Certainly."

The waiter turned to leave.

Lucifer spoke again.

"...In a black cup."

The waiter froze.

Silence spread between them.

Slowly...

He turned around.

The respect in his eyes had been replaced with caution.

"...Sir..."

"...do you understand what you're asking for?"

Lucifer rested his chin on one hand.

"If I didn't..."

"I wouldn't have ordered it."

The waiter studied him for several long seconds.

Finally...

He bowed.

"...Please follow me."

Rather than serving tea immediately...

The waiter led Lucifer upstairs.

Past the second floor.

Past the third.

Past the luxurious private rooms.

Until...

They reached the very top.

Unlike the crowded lower floors...

The uppermost floor was completely empty.

Only a single table stood beside an enormous window overlooking the entire city.

The waiter gestured respectfully.

"Please wait here."

"The person you're looking for will arrive shortly."

Without another word...

He left.

Lucifer quietly poured himself tea.

Outside...

The Demonic Cult stretched toward the horizon.

Its streets looked peaceful.

No one below realized that the man sitting above them had changed the balance of Murim within a few short months.

Then...

A calm feminine voice broke the silence.

"The view is beautiful."

Lucifer looked toward the entrance.

A young woman slowly approached.

She wore elegant black robes embroidered with silver thread.

Long black hair rested upon her shoulders.

Her calm black eyes seemed capable of seeing through every lie.

Lucifer smiled faintly.

"I wasn't expecting..."

"...the Leader of the Hao Sect to greet me personally."

The woman returned the smile.

"I suppose introductions are still appropriate."

She bowed gracefully.

"My name is Hao Bing."

"Current Master of the Hao Sect."

The Hao Sect.

The greatest information network within the Demonic Cult.

If the Beggar Sect ruled intelligence in the Murim Alliance...

The Hao Sect ruled the shadows.

They knew where merchants traveled.

Which sects traded in secret.

Which nobles plotted against one another.

Rumors.

Assassinations.

Political alliances.

Nothing escaped their ears.

And unlike ordinary information brokers...

Their information was never cheap.

But it was almost never wrong.

Hao Bing noticed Lucifer's empty cup.

Without asking...

She quietly refilled it.

Lucifer watched with amusement.

"You're more humble than your reputation suggests."

She smiled.

"One should always show proper manners."

"Especially when entertaining the Devil."

Lucifer gestured toward the opposite seat.

"Sit."

She accepted.

For several moments...

Neither spoke.

Only the sound of tea being poured filled the room.

Finally...

Hao Bing broke the silence.

"I honestly expected..."

"...you'd make quite an entrance."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

She laughed softly.

"Many nobles demand information by threatening our people."

"Others believe their family names should buy our loyalty."

"They often leave disappointed."

Lucifer nodded.

"They're the ones losing."

Hao Bing looked surprised.

Lucifer continued calmly.

"The moment I entered this building..."

"I sensed dozens of hidden masters."

"If anyone caused trouble here..."

"They'd disappear before reaching the stairs."

"And if the Hao Sect wished to expose someone's secrets..."

"...that person's enemies would finish the job for you."

Hao Bing slowly smiled.

"...Just as terrifying as the rumors describe."

Lucifer sipped his tea.

"I've heard stories about you too."

"You became the youngest leader in Hao Sect history."

"You faced resistance simply because you're a woman."

"And yet..."

"You made this organization stronger than ever."

For the first time...

Hao Bing genuinely looked surprised.

"So..."

"The Devil also gathers information."

Lucifer shrugged.

"Know your allies."

"Know your enemies."

"Sometimes..."

"They're the same person."

Hao Bing leaned slightly forward.

"So..."

"What am I?"

Lucifer met her gaze.

"That depends."

"On what happens next."

The smile vanished from Hao Bing's face.

"What information do you seek?"

Lucifer placed his cup down.

Only one word left his mouth.

"...Daxia."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

The cheerful air disappeared.

Even the wind outside seemed quieter.

For the first time...

A flicker of surprise appeared in Hao Bing's eyes.

It vanished almost immediately.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Lucifer chuckled.

"You should lie better."

"The rumors have already spread throughout Murim."

"You investigated them."

"I know you did."

Hao Bing calmly replied,

"What makes you so certain?"

Lucifer leaned back.

"The Hao Sect has dug secrets out of forgotten graves."

"Entire clans have vanished because you discovered something they wished buried."

"So don't tell me..."

"The greatest mystery in Murim history escaped your attention."

Silence.

Hao Bing stared into her tea.

"You understand..."

"...that both the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult want this matter buried."

Lucifer nodded.

"I do."

"The Heavenly Demon sent me."

"I'm not here on my own."

That answer finally changed everything.

Hao Bing sighed.

"So you've already reached that level of trust."

She slowly shook her head.

"Our branches extend into Murim Alliance territory."

"If we investigate too deeply..."

"They'll destroy every one of our agents."

Lucifer smiled.

"But they won't."

She frowned.

"And why not?"

"Because you'll have me."

The words were spoken so casually...

...yet carried overwhelming confidence.

Lucifer continued.

"You're curious."

"I can see it."

"Someone who has devoted her life to gathering information..."

"...can't ignore the greatest mystery in history."

"This isn't work."

"It's a feast."

He stood.

"So."

"Work with me."

Hao Bing closed her eyes.

For several moments...

She simply sighed.

"...You truly don't accept 'no' as an answer."

Lucifer grinned.

"Never."

She laughed despite herself.

"Fine."

"I'll investigate."

"But it will take time."

Lucifer turned toward the stairs.

"I'll wait."

"...Just don't make me wait too long."

As he reached the exit...

Hao Bing called after him.

"Lord Lucifer."

He stopped.

She tossed a small black jade plaque toward him.

Lucifer caught it effortlessly.

Its surface was engraved with a single silver character.

Hao.

She explained,

"Every Hao Sect merchant."

"Every restaurant."

"Every inn."

"Every trading house."

"They're all part of our network."

"Present that token..."

"...and any branch will treat your request as if it came directly from me."

Lucifer looked at the plaque before slipping it into his robe.

"So..."

"The black cup wasn't just tea."

Hao Bing smiled knowingly.

"It was the password."

"In our establishments..."

"Tea served in a black cup means only one thing."

"The customer isn't here to drink."

"They're here..."

"...to buy information."

Lucifer chuckled.

"Clever."

Without another word...

He descended the pavilion.

Leaving Hao Bing alone beside the window.

She watched his figure disappear into the streets below.

Then whispered to herself,

"The Devil..."

"Just what are you planning to uncover?"

Outside...

Lucifer glanced once at the black jade token in his hand before putting it away.

The game had finally begun.

Now...

All he had to do...

...was wait for history itself to answer.