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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Roots in Demon Valley
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I stared at the back of the woman walking ahead.
Her steps made no sound. From behind, it looked like faint afterimages trailed her.
I knew that technique. It was a form I recognized, but one I couldn't use right now without internal energy.
The movement art of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.
Ghost Spirit Step.
To keep up with those light footsteps, I had to give it my all.
"Where are we headed?"
"Your nest."
"My nest..."
"Where you'll stay."
She seemed curt, but she answered every question I asked. Her voice was icy cold, reminding me of the First Demon, but her demeanor was on a completely different track.
Where the First Demon nagged but took good care of you, this woman felt like she was building a wall from the start.
It was clear she had zero interest in me.
"Here."
At the base of a rock crevice was the so-called "nest." All that was spread out was a single piece of cloth from who-knows-where.
She extinguished the torch. She sluggishly burrowed into the cloth. There was nothing else- the surroundings were utterly barren.
"Demon Valley gets sunlight just once a day. That's when they check for survivors, so you have to be at your nest then. One day is fine, but miss two roll calls in a row, and you're marked dead. Even if you're alive, a new recruit comes in. Your spot vanishes, and you're trapped here forever."
"And the rest of the time...?"
"That's all I'm telling you. Nest location. Roll call time. No torches. Light's forbidden here. I attached it just for you- no personal use. You can't leave Demon Valley either. They'll kill you."
Her gaze dropped away from me abruptly.
"Figure out the rest yourself."
She fidgeted, adjusting her position, then fell asleep sitting up.
In the sound of her steady breathing, I fiddled with my sword and stood.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art. I'd heard you needed to master at least the first form to learn the "Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword."
So for now, this sword was just decoration. All I could rely on was my body techniques.
My stomach growled loudly. I had nothing with me- I'd been dropped into Demon Valley utterly empty-handed from start to finish.
I considered waking her, but quickly dismissed it. The very idea felt off. The thought flashed that if I touched her, my whole arm would shatter.
Probably not a good idea to wake her. Even if I did, no guarantee she'd teach me anything.
Most deaths in here came from "allies," I'd already heard that much.
First things first. Secure the essentials.
Water and food.
The most vital things I couldn't do without.
...
Demon Valley.
Inside the dark gorge, light couldn't reach, so most of it was invisible. But it wasn't total pitch blackness everywhere.
A few glowing stones dotted the path. Their dim light was enough to guide the way to the nests.
The important part was beyond that.
Presences stirred from other places too. A few in black clothes passed by. They exchanged glances now and then, but never actually talked.
Even under their clothes, you could feel the killing intent radiating off them. If poison gas were visible, it'd be coiling thick around their bodies.
The vibe was like they'd lash out at the slightest word. I kept quiet. Anyone could sense that much.
They all saw each other as rivals.
So what was the reason for that?
Sunlight pierced through. For a brief moment, Demon Valley's every shape was revealed faintly. From my nest, I watched the light pass by.
"20th Number, 30th Number. Survivors confirmed."
Someone scribbled on paper as they passed us. I was 30th Number, so the woman next to me must be 20th Number.
The numbers on our backs were our only identifiers. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and stood. The moment I tried to speak, she vanished with a whoosh.
Ghost Spirit Step, impossible to track. It looked like the person just winked out of existence. The darkness made it seem even more extreme.
I clutched my starving stomach and stood. Since she'd moved, it must mean I could too.
One day.
I had no intention of wasting the day allotted to me.
The instant roll call ended, I chased after the people plunging into the darkness. I could barely see, but shapes were vaguely discernible, and my fingertips occasionally brushed something.
The first thing I did was acclimate to the dark. I strained to pierce the gloom with my eyes. But seeing poorly, I had to rely on tactile sensations.
I groped forward. A sneer brushed past me.
"What a pathetic guy they let in."
"Can't even use internal energy, can't see in the dark either."
"He'll starve in three days."
I tried drawing up internal energy following their words. But it failed immediately.
Heavenly Tribulation rebelled, hitting me with excruciating pain.
I retched out a scream. But the next moment, I stood again.
It's fine. I'd just confirmed one thing that doesn't work.
I've seen what I'm given- no repeating the same mistake.
A presence passed nearby. I groped toward it. Something bumped my forehead. I flinched for a second, but soon realized it was a plant leaf.
"...Who's there?"
The presence twitched. It seemed to glare at me for a while, then retreated far away. This repeated a few times. Some even threatened me.
"This is mine. Come closer and die."
"...What's there?"
"No second warning."
No one answered my questions properly. In the end, I had to survive on my own.
I felt along the ground. My damp fingertips occasionally grasped something. Bringing it back to the glowing stones, I saw it was moss.
My first night's meal was strangely colored moss. It tasted weird, smelled rotten, but I had no choice.
Chewing the moss, I recalled the Heavenly Demon's image.
How long would I have to stay here to become like her?
I reassured myself. I'd found one thing today- tomorrow, I'd find two.
Keep at it steadily. Don't give in to helplessness.
This wasn't like those days scraping by.
Now, I was surviving by my own will.
...
20th Number pulled up her cloth.
It blocked the minimal chill. Not that useful, but better than nothing.
Not just for the cold. Having something on her body suppressed the deep memories bubbling up from within.
When she got out of here, she'd cover herself with a warmer blanket.
One that chased away all the cold.
20th Number glanced sideways. The rest of the nest was empty. Roll call was soon, but 30th Number hadn't returned.
He'd been weak from the start. No internal energy, clumsy steps.
Probably went too deep from hunger and died groaning from poison. The depths were hell for newbies.
20th Number turned away. His situation meant nothing to her. In Demon Valley's Blood Demon Squad, no one cared about others.
Even self-preservation was a struggle. To survive, you had to grow stronger- and the stronger you got, the deeper into Demon Valley you had to go.
Otherwise, you'd stay trapped here forever.
Devouring stronger beasts to grow was the only way to break this endless cycle.
"..."
If there was a mountain hell, this was it. 20th Number fiddled with her wrist.
She prayed for a mission soon. That way, she could escape this wretched place, if only briefly.
Solve one thing, then the next.
Keep solving, and eventually reach the end. Maybe even climb beyond Blood Demon Squad.
Beyond Demon Valley, to a cozy home. A warm place where she wouldn't have to tear into live snakes or beasts.
"...."
Light passed her face. The usual recorder muttered impassively.
"20th Number, survivor confirmed. 30th Number, survival uncertain."
Roll call over, 20th Number stood too. She needed to hone her sword, find edible food and water.
For water, seek small puddles. Beasts stank after a day. No proper "supplies" here- constant movement for survival.
20th Number headed deeper to hunt beasts. The thicker the eerie aura and dampness, the stronger Demon Valley's beasts got.
If all beasts she couldn't eat vanished from Demon Valley...
Then she could leave.
From this hell.
...
After spending a full day in the darkness, I grasped a few truths.
Where water sounds came from, there were puddles. Couldn't vouch for quality, but enough to wet my throat.
Puddles seemed to keep forming. But not many. Places near nests were mostly claimed by others.
To survive, I had to go deeper. But the deeper, the stranger presences brushed my ears.
Something's in there.
Instinctively, I chose paths away from the noises.
All I could eat was moss and water. I'd hear munching nearby sometimes, but approaching brought only threats.
Edibles here were limited. Far fewer than the number of people, it seemed.
That's why everyone was on edge.
After roaming a full day, I realized plenty ate moss like me.
The moss surprisingly had solid nutrition. Plenty of impurities, but digestible.
Above all, Heavenly Tribulation.
Eating moss triggered it oddly.
The thing rooted between my veins writhed in response. It filtered impurities, expelled toxins on its own.
Others groaned with stomachaches from moss, but I was fine.
Like it refused to acknowledge any poison but itself.
Realizing I could eat mass quantities of moss without issue, my task here was clear.
Train the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.
In an empty clearing, I swung my fists. Kicked trees, jumped on them occasionally.
I practiced Ghost Spirit Step steadily too. Never missed next day's roll call.
20th Number eyed me strangely. Like a dead man returned.
I ignored it. Just gave my best at what I could do.
My punches started whistling faintly. The body-twisting pain adapted better, first form of Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art settling in.
No internal energy yet, but I didn't quit. Hung from branches, adapting to dark every moment.
Gradually, Demon Valley's innards came into view. Eyes piercing dark without energy gave more info.
Two months.
Not a short time.
Training abs hanging from a branch as usual, sudden agony pierced deep inside me. I fell, rolled a ways, barely catching breath after the pain passed.
What was that-? I pondered briefly.
Then I peered into the black, rippling something inside me.
"...Ah!"
Heavenly Tribulation.
It had finally rooted deep throughout my body. Like black tree roots covering every vessel, it brought agony and one gift.
A small, rippling blood-red mass.
Over two months after reaching Demon Valley, via Nine Heavens Blood Demon Heart Method, I could finally accumulate internal energy.