DEMON EMPEROR

CHAPTER 4 : THE GOLDEN PAGODA INN

Three days had passed since Ba Bel officially became Wong An's disciple. They had left the forest, and Wong An was taking Ba Bel back to the Sect, but their journey back was quite long.

Wong An, who had previously felt anxious and worried because Ba Bel seemed far more mature than children his age, slowly began to change his perspective. Not only was Ba Bel a good and obedient disciple, but he also deeply respected Wong An as his Master and was exceptionally devoted, leading Wong An to now regard him as a talented child.

“The martial arts world is a cruel place, but as long as you train diligently, you will at least be able to survive,” Wong An explained to Ba Bel.

During their journey, Wong An didn't say much to Ba Bel about the Sect they were heading to; he only gave Ba Bel an overview of the martial arts world.

Ba Bel felt a bit awkward because Wong An’s demeanor had changed from his previous life to this one. In his previous life, Ba Bel was a five-year-old child who had experienced trauma, and any explanation of the martial arts world from Wong An during his first life would have certainly made Ba Bel choose to stay far away from it.

Wong An's reason for explaining this was surely because he saw Ba Bel as a talented and courageous disciple. Indeed, in this second life, Ba Bel intended never to disappoint his Master again.

“Bel’er, this Master of yours is not a great figure in the martial arts world and has many shortcomings, but I hope you won't regret being under my guidance. Should a more suitable martial artist appear one day to teach you, I would let you train under their guidance,” Wong An said with a faint smile. In just three days, Wong An felt Ba Bel was too talented to be under the tutelage of someone who had never had a disciple before.

Even though Wong An spoke like that, Ba Bel knew that Wong An was merely being modest. The Sect that would become Ba Bel's new home, and Wong An's origin, was the Earth and Sky Sword Sect, located in the Valley of Solitude. While it couldn't be called a major White Path Sect, it wasn't far from it.

Wong An was known in the martial arts world as the Jade-faced Swordsman, and his swordsmanship was also renowned, making him one of the most formidable martial artists in his sect.

The Earth and Sky Sword Sect had one hundred Elders who managed the Sect, known as the Sword Elders. These hundred Sword Elders were the most powerful martial artists in the Earth and Sky Sword Sect.

Wong An had not only become the youngest Elder in history, becoming a Sword Elder at just 19 years old, but also the most talented disciple of his generation.

However, his epithet in the martial arts world, the Jade-faced Swordsman, was not earned from his swordsmanship but from something else.

“Master, your disciple will only follow you, no one else,” Ba Bel dismissed Wong An’s good intention. For him, Wong An was truly the only person worthy of being called Master, both in his previous life and this one.

“Bel’er, the martial arts world isn't as you imagine. There’s nothing wrong with having more than one Master. Even I have had three Masters throughout my life and might have more,” Wong An said, stroking Ba Bel’s head.

Of course, Ba Bel felt awkward when Wong An stroked his head; even though he was trapped in the body of a five-year-old child, his mentality was that of a 101-year-old man. But naturally, Ba Bel said nothing as Wong An stroked his head.

Ba Bel didn't delve further into the matter of having multiple Masters. In his opinion, with the Nine Demonic Transformations Scripture still in his memory, Ba Bel didn't need any other Master. As long as he had time, Ba Bel would be able to conquer the martial arts world and correct the regrets of his first life.

Ba Bel resolved that in this life, he would become a peerless demon, and he spoke in his heart: “With my two hands, I will defy destiny, not to become a hero, but to create peace in a chaotic world. With my two hands, I challenge the four corners of heaven and earth to change my fate. With my two hands, I will shatter angels if they bar my path. I transform into a demon to bring peace to this world. I am willing to be a demon to reconcile this world. I am willing to be a demon to slay false angels hungry for power. From darkness I was born, and with darkness, I will illuminate all paths of those who stand in my way. I am Ba Bel, the Demon Emperor!”

Ba Bel's gaze changed as he uttered those words in his heart, causing Wong An to notice his disciple’s face. Then Ba Bel immediately blinked, restoring his eyes to the gaze of a five-year-old child.

“Night is falling, we should rest at that place...” Wong An pointed to a simple inn.

Indeed, the route Wong An and Ba Bel were traveling was a trade route, so inns and taverns were not uncommon along the way. For the past few nights, they had camped outdoors, and Wong An felt it wouldn't hurt to rest at an inn this time.

Ba Bel furrowed his brow; for the past few days, he had been trying to recall all the events of his first life, starting from his first encounter with Wong An.

“Shouldn’t we have reached this inn after a week’s journey?” Ba Bel mused inwardly as he looked at the inn before him.

Ba Bel finally remembered what happened in his first life: this inn should have been a ruin, filled with many human corpses, when he and Wong An arrived. Ba Bel had lost consciousness while accompanying Wong An to inspect the state of the ruins.

In his previous life, Ba Bel had walked slowly, devoid of any will to live, thus taking much longer to reach this place. Now, however, he walked with full vigor alongside Wong An. Ba Bel didn't know what had happened to this inn in the past, but one thing was certain: an event that could turn an inn into ruins and fill it with human corpses was not something good to be present for when it occurred.

“It could all happen tonight,” Ba Bel murmured softly, worried that he and Wong An were in danger.

“Bel’er, what are you thinking about? Let’s go in!” Wong An urged.

“Master, shouldn’t we just continue our journey? Your disciple is eager to see his new home...” Ba Bel smiled awkwardly.

Wong An smiled gently and stroked Ba Bel’s head, explaining that their Sect wasn't going anywhere, so there was no need to rush.

Ba Bel scratched his head, which was starting to ache. It was a miracle he had been granted a second life. Ba Bel did not want to be killed just days after his rebirth. Although Wong An possessed high-level martial arts, Ba Bel didn't want to take any risks.

“If I insist on refusing to enter this inn, Master will definitely become suspicious, especially if he later hears that something happened to it,” Ba Bel thought, feeling a great dilemma. With no other choice, he followed Wong An into the inn.

Ba Bel could only hope that the terrifying event wouldn't happen tonight, because if it did, Ba Bel wouldn't be able to help Wong An should anything occur.

Ba Bel and Wong An entered the inn named the Golden Pagoda Inn.