Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Does Not Change
Arc: The Great Gang War
Scarlet King slowly opened his eyes.
At first, all he saw was gray mist.
Then, shapes gradually came into focus.
The scent of wet mud filled his nose,
and the sound of rain falling onto leaves finally reached his ears.
He was lying beneath a tree that shielded him from the heavy rain.
He lifted his gaze toward the sky…
stars filled the horizon, and the moon hung high in the middle of the night.
He could not remember when daylight had faded away.
Cold crept from the tips of his fingers into the rest of his body.
The biting chill made him shiver despite the thick clothes he wore.
When he looked beside him, he noticed the little girl clutching her hands to her chest,
her teeth chattering violently from the cold.
Scarlet King moved, placing his palm against the ground,
and slowly pushed himself upright.
As he stood, he calmly circulated qi through his veins.
The energy flowed sluggishly at first, pulsing with his heartbeat,
but with each cycle, warmth gradually returned to his limbs.
Scarlet King knelt briefly
and lifted the child into his arms.
The girl stirred immediately and pressed herself tightly against his warm body.
He adjusted his grip and fastened the buttons of his coat around her,
hiding the child completely within his black cloak.
Scarlet King looked ahead
and noticed a small mountain village made of black wooden houses,
its many candles illuminating the slopes.
From afar, the candlelight resembled fallen stars scattered across the mountain.
Scarlet King began communicating with Ikalates through mental contact,
like a thin thread linking their minds.
(Ikalates, can you hear me?)
Ikalates' mental voice replied—rough, yet steady.
(Yes. I can hear you, Scarlet King.)
(Come to the eastern village near the sect. I'll be there—we need to talk.)
Scarlet King moved swiftly toward the village,
his boots sinking into the mud, leaving deep traces with every step.
---
A Few Minutes Later — Inside a Small Wooden Tavern
Scarlet King entered the tavern through its modest doorway.
Inside were several small tables.
The upper floor was reserved for cultivators,
while the lower floor was strictly for ordinary humans.
The scent of grilled meat filled the air,
and the sound of cups clinking against wooden tables echoed throughout the room.
A servant appeared immediately,
bowed respectfully, and spoke in a calm tone:
"Welcome, honored cultivator. Your seat is on the upper floor, reserved for cultivators."
Scarlet King climbed the stairs,
his steps slow upon the narrow wooden staircase.
When he reached the top, he saw that every table was occupied.
The servant spoke again, his voice uneasy:
"Oh… I'm sorry, sir. It seems all the seats are taken."
Scarlet King showed no concern.
He walked to one of the tables,
grabbed the first man seated there,
and threw him out the window.
Then he turned to the second man
and did the same.
Scarlet King sat down calmly,
waiting for Ikalates to arrive.
The servant trembled and stammered:
"Sir, this behavior—"
Scarlet King released a crushing aura that forced the servant to his knees in terror.
A violet aura filled the space,
erupting like blazing purple flames.
Everyone in the room turned toward Scarlet King and released their own auras—
but his was overwhelmingly stronger.
After a few seconds, Scarlet King concealed his aura.
The others quickly followed suit.
No one wanted trouble.
---
One Hour Later
Scarlet King received a mental transmission.
(Can you hear me, Scarlet King? This is Ikalates. Where are you?)
(I'm near you. Inside a tavern. I can sense your aura.)
Moments later, Ikalates moved.
The atmosphere outside was gray and overcast—cold and bleak,
like a painting drawn only in shades of black and white.
He entered the nearest tavern
and asked the servant—who was still shaken from earlier:
"Have you seen a man dressed in black, with cloth wrapped around his head?"
The servant nodded quickly.
"Yes… he's on the second floor."
Ikalates climbed the stairs,
the wood creaking loudly beneath his weight.
He spotted Scarlet King immediately,
and also noticed the lingering tension among the patrons from earlier events.
Ikalates sat down across from him.
Some of the patrons whispered among themselves:
"Isn't that someone from the Sky-Grasping Sect?"
"Yes… I heard he's a powerful new disciple."
"It's better not to provoke him. We might die."
Scarlet King and Ikalates ignored the murmurs
and exchanged sharp, focused gazes.
Ikalates spoke first:
"Why did you ask to meet me?"
He glanced at Scarlet King's battered condition.
Scarlet King replied calmly:
"I want to talk to you about our plan to escape to the Second Dimension."