Once I moved a bit further inside, I was able to hear information about the Seven Blossom Centipede right away.
"The Heavenly Poison Sect, is it."
"They don't go by that name anymore—it's the Centipede Sect now."
"Regardless, isn't it a sect founded by the survivors of the Heavenly Poison Sect?"
"That's true, but… it seems to have a different disposition from the Heavenly Poison Sect we know."
"Indeed. That's a fair point."
According to the merchants I met deep in Yunnan, the Centipede Sect is a new sect founded by the survivors of the Heavenly Poison Sect—which I had exterminated with my own hands—centered around the female disciples of the South Man Beast Palace who had tamed the Seven Blossom Centipede and its master.
They call themselves survivors of the Heavenly Poison Sect, but strictly speaking, they're just a collection of servants who worked for the sect and martial artists hovering somewhere between Third-Rate and Second-Rate.
Anyone who reaches First-Rate can establish a small sect in the countryside. Reach Peak Realm, and you're called a master, welcomed wherever you go.
That's why those with real skill were absorbed into other sects long ago, or founded their own, or became wanderers and left Yunnan.
Those who lacked the confidence to strike out on their own, yet were burdened with the Heavenly Poison Sect's infamous reputation, had nowhere to go—so they banded together.
They may be cursed for having belonged to the Heavenly Poison Sect, but the Centipede Sect's own reputation isn't bad, though…
"Well, that's only natural. These are people who were never involved in the sect's core affairs to begin with."
"Indeed, that would make sense."
The Orthodox Sects tend to cherish even their weakest members as long as they belong to the same sect, but in the Unorthodox Sects, those with low martial levels are little more than sturdy errand boys.
They did what they were told, got beaten when they failed, and were grateful for the few techniques tossed their way now and then…
Wasn't my childhood exactly like that?
And the Heavenly Poison Sect was even more vicious than most Unorthodox Sects. There must have been no small number of people who joined the Heavenly Poison Sect because they had no choice but to survive.
The organization formed by such people was the Centipede Sect. They had learned enough from what they'd seen and heard that they couldn't exactly be called Orthodox Sects, but… compared to the Heavenly Poison Sect, they were likely quite tame.
"That's a relief."
"What do you mean?"
"If the Centipede Sect had been a place like the Heavenly Poison Sect, we might have had to trade words for swords, don't you think?"
"…Didn't you say you would arrange a meeting with the Beast Palace Lord through the Centipede Sect leader?"
"That's true, but if they are deeply connected to those who tried to harm you, Tang So-wol, then uprooting them takes priority."
"Oh?"
Tang So-wol grinned, pleased with my answer. She sidled up and hooked her arm through mine, clinging to it for a moment.
Then Seomun Hwa-rin poked my side as if wanting something, and asked, "By the way, you there. Do you remember the way to the Heavenly Poison Sect? This lady's memory has grown hazy with the passage of time."
"Indeed. That could very well be the case."
"…? That sounded a bit rude, but is it just my imagination?"
"Yes. It's definitely your imagination. Surely I would never say something as unkind as suggesting you're at an age where your memory starts to fail."
"What?!"
Seomun Hwa-rin, startled, began pinching my side. It hurt, of course it hurt… but seeing that reaction, a sense of satisfaction welled up from deep in my chest.
Why was teasing Seomun Hwa-rin so enjoyable?
Swallowing that unresolved question, I tapped the back of her hand a couple of times, barely managing to get her to let go of my side.
"Anyway, I remember the way to the Heavenly Poison Sect, so don't worry."
"Hmph. Weren't you in a state of Qi Deviation? I only asked because I worried your memory might be hazy, yet you return my concern with such harsh words…"
"Harsh words? Senior Seomun Hwa-rin, you're in your prime. It was merely a simple joke."
"…Do you truly think so?"
Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been grumbling nonstop, fell quiet, then asked in a voice tinged with anticipation.
In a way, she was an easy person to deal with. I let out a hollow laugh and nodded.
"Of course. And because I was in a state of Qi Deviation, I can remember it even more clearly. It seems I become more perceptive when I fall into Qi Deviation."
"Ah, ah…"
Seomun Hwa-rin's expression turned blank, as if she had recalled something. At that, I chuckled and quickened my pace, taking the lead.
With the hope that the Centipede Sect wasn't as vicious as the Heavenly Poison Sect, the story might unfold well.
***
The Centipede Sect itself was located close to the Heavenly Poison Sect's grounds, so it was easy to find.
It was a building that was a bit too spacious to be called just a sect, but the sign hanging on the front gate properly read "Centipede Sect."
Given the nature of martial artists who need training grounds, a sect's buildings had to be larger than an ordinary house meant for living.
In that sense, the Centipede Sect was practically a hole-in-the-wall establishment.
They didn't even seem to have the resources to maintain it—the front gate was intact, but the wall a short distance away was in poor condition.
Perhaps it was because the sight reminded me of the Iron Blood Faction, leaving me with a bittersweet feeling.
I knocked on the door a bit more carefully than usual.
"Is anyone there?"
A clattering noise came from inside. After waiting a moment, the front gate began to open cautiously.
The one who came out was a gaunt-looking young man. Judging by his overall frame, it was clear he hadn't always been thin, but had lost weight from lack of food.
He spoke in a voice full of wariness.
"…Who are you? If you're from the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild, we still have quite a bit of time before the repayment date, so please come back today."
"Cheonghwa Merchant Guild? I don't know what the situation is, but I'm not from there. I came to speak with the Sect Leader of the Seven Flowers Centipede about the Seven Flowers Centipede."
"Are you here to buy the Sect Leader's poison?"
"Hm. You could say that's close enough."
When I nodded, the man finally took a careful look at our group.
He let out a sigh as if a weight had been lifted, then opened the front gate wide.
"I'm sorry you had to see us in such a sorry state. Things haven't been going well for us lately."
"I understand. A new sect always has plenty of places for money to leak out."
That's why, if a sect doesn't have a large reserve of funds or someone skilled in the role of Chief Steward, it's not uncommon for it to collapse before even a year has passed since its founding.
I let out a snort and waved my hand to signal that it was no trouble, and only then did the man manage a faint smile.
"Thank you. You have business with the sect leader, right? I'll let him know right away. Would you mind waiting in the reception room for a moment?"
"That's fine."
I shrugged and followed the gaunt young man further inside, and it was at that moment—
Perhaps because the place was so cramped, it wasn't long before we ran into another sect member.
It seemed he recognized me, after all.
He must have been in the middle of training—his clothes were soaked with sweat and fatigue. Yet there was a clear sense of pride in his bearing, the very picture of a model martial artist.
"Y-you… the Sword Demon!"
The moment he saw my face, his complexion went pale.
He was already gaunt from not eating enough, and now even the blood drained from his face—he looked practically like a corpse.
Still, the fact that he recognized me and reacted like this was surely because of what happened at the Heavenly Poison Sect.
I raised both hands, putting on the most harmless expression I could manage.
"Calm down. I'm only here to talk today."
"E-everyone, run!"
Before I could even finish my sentence, the guy was already fleeing without looking back.
I let out a deep sigh and chased after the direction he had run, only to find a strange space—a training ground, yes, but one with a vegetable patch cultivated in the corner.
It seemed they were sourcing at least some of their food from that little garden.
I was letting out a hollow laugh at the poverty that exceeded my imagination when the guy who had fled first started waving his arms wildly at the other sect members on the training ground, shouting.
And one by one, the members of the Centipede Sect began turning to look at me.
"The Sword Demon! That butcher has returned!"
"Protect the sect leader! Protect the sect leader!"
"Who the hell opened the gate for him?!"
"What does that matter! He's the kind of monster who'd just cut the front gate down and walk in anyway!"
The Sword Demon, is it. It seems news from the Central Plains travels slowly to Yunnan, so the alias White Moon Sword Lord hasn't spread here yet.
…Or maybe the sight of me exterminating the Heavenly Poison Sect is so fresh in their minds that no other alias even comes to mind.
Fear spreads like wildfire. But everyone just huddled into one corner of the training ground—no one tried to flee outside.
I was blocking the entrance, sure, but the walls were low enough that anyone could climb over if they wanted to.
The reason became clear soon enough.
Sssss—
A sharp sound, like wind leaking through clenched teeth.
From the ground, hidden by the crowd, a massive shadow rose.
A bulk that looked twice my height. Its entire body was encased in hard armor, and the legs extending from each segment were as sharp as swords.
But what caught the eye most was the dazzling pattern etched across its carapace.
Seven different colors blended together, forming an inscrutable harmony that defied words.
A sight so beautiful that if someone pried off one of those carapace plates and claimed it was a gem, I'd believe them on the spot.
But the venom dripping from its mouth seemed to warn that prying off that carapace would be no easy task.
"A Seven-Color Centipede, is it."
"Yes. I've never seen one before, but it's certainly beautiful."
"Then that must be the Centipede Sect Leader over there."
Beside the giant centipede, a woman with a youthful face stood glaring at us, her eyes wide open.
I didn't know her name. But the aura she gave off was different from the other sect members—foreign and steady. Probably the result of mastering the Beast Palace's advanced martial arts. Even if she'd been cast out now, she was still the Beast Palace Lord's daughter.
Her martial level was at most first-rate. The Seven-Color Centipede, however, carried energy at least at the Peak Realm, so she must have tamed a spirit beast stronger than herself.
As I admired this inwardly, the Centipede Sect disciples—misinterpreting my gaze—huddled even tighter together.
Then, shielding the Seven-Color Centipede and the Centipede Sect Leader with their own bodies, they shouted.
"The Heavenly Poison Sect's crimes belong to us alone! The Sect Leader has nothing to do with it—let her go!"
"You won't lay a single finger on the Sect Leader!"
"You… you deceived me…?"
Each of them stood before me with faces set in grim resolve, ready to block my path. When I reached the one who had guided our party here, he wore an expression full of betrayal—as if we'd known each other for ages rather than just meeting.
It felt odd saying this myself, but… it was quite a solemn sight.
The buildings were all but collapsing, and martial artists who should have been robust had grown thin from lack of proper food.
Yet, even knowing their own inadequacy, they willingly raised their voices in defiance against an overwhelming powerhouse.
Why did this remind me of the sects that had been destroyed one by one at the Heavenly Demon's hands before my regression?
As I hesitated, wondering what to say, Seol Ri-hyang grabbed my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Cheon Hwi. You look like some Demonic Head of an Unorthodox Sect right now."
"I haven't done anything, have I?"
"But that's exactly why it suits you so well."
"…I'm going crazy."
I shook my head and stepped forward toward the Centipede Sect disciples. Then, forcing a smile onto my face.
Clang!
And just like that, they all drew their weapons.
Unbelievable. There's a saying that you don't spit on a smiling face… but apparently, you can still draw a sword against one.
I said, a hint of grievance in my voice.
"It's a misunderstanding."
At that, an old man with a deeply wrinkled face walked out, leaning on his cane.
From the fact that I couldn't sense any internal energy from him, he must have been a servant by origin.
Could it be that my sincerity had finally gotten through to them?
"Blood Flower Sword Demon. I know you could kill the likes of us with ease. But even so, there are things one cannot simply give up on."
…No. It didn't seem to have gotten through at all.
"I'll say it one more time. I didn't come here today to see blood spilled. I came purely for a conversation. About the Seven Flower Centipede, and about your sect leader."
"If you wish to lay a hand on our sect leader, you will first have to cut down every member of the Centipede Sect!"
The words were bold, but his legs were trembling. Now I understood. They were so startled and paralyzed with fear that my words hadn't truly registered. With their minds frozen, all they could do was repeat the lines they had prepared beforehand.
"There's no helping it."
I steadied my resolve and drew my sword. At that, everyone squeezed their eyes shut, as if sensing their impending deaths.
Shhk.
I struck with precision, cleaving only their weapons in two.
The clatter of steel tumbling across the ground rang out. Sensing their confusion, the Centipede Sect members began cautiously opening their eyes, and I spoke.
"If you don't want to die, drop your weapons. Bring me warm tea, and I'll spare your lives."
"…"
Thud, thud.
Only then did the Centipede Sect members drop their weapons and give up resisting.
Honestly, they always had to be spoken to this way before they'd listen.