The night cloaked the world in stillness.
Cold wind whispered down the stone paths of the Heavenly demon Sect's inner grounds, brushing against ancient wood and tiled rooftops. The moonlight cut sharp lines between shadows, falling upon empty courtyards and silent, towering halls. There were no footsteps, no voices, no sound of life.
A boy walked alone.
He looked no older than fifteen. His hair, long and black, fell to his back in loose waves, occasionally stirred by the breeze. His eyes—an unnatural shade of deep violet—glowed faintly under the moonlight.
He wore a traditional martial robe of pure black, the hem stitched in crimson. On his back, embroidered with silver thread, was a symbol: a blood-red lotus, from which rose a dark violet flame.
The Black Flame in the Lotus. A mark feared across continents, spoken of in hushed tones. Enlightenment twisted by power. Rebirth through destruction. Demonic strength.
Xian Ryu walked the stone path without pause. The heavenly demon divine Sect grounds were vast, the air thick with invisible pressure. Yet no one stirred. No lanterns glowed in the windows. Every building he passed—wooden and ancient in the style of old dynasties—stood silent. Lifeless. Covered in darkness.
He crossed courtyard after courtyard, each more ornate and grand than the last. Yet not a single disciple or guard was seen. It was as if the sect itself had entered a final breathless meditation.
After passing several courtyards and wooden bulidings.
Ahead stood a grand staircase of weathered stone, leading up toward the central courtyard. At its heart of courtyard stood a massive building, imperial in scale, its double-tiered roof stretching wide like wings. Crimson mana lanterns lined the eaves, unlit. Black-painted doors, carved with symbols of fire and serpents, loomed under an archway shaped like a demon's grin.
Three figures stood in front of the gate.
Xian Ryu stopped at the base of the stairs. The wind stirred again, shifting the hair from his face. As he ascended, the three turned to look at him.
Each of them had long hair and eyes of the same cursed purple hue. Likely blood related.
The first was a woman—silver hair falling down her back, bound at the ends with dark cords. Her gaze was sharp, almost icy. Her features were sharp, elegant, and cold. She was Xian Lianhua.
Beside her stood a man with hair like blood, tied high in a warrior's knot. His arms were folded, posture rigid. Violet eyes that sparked with hidden fire—Xian Zhenyu.
The third, a brown-haired man, wore a quiet expression—his eyes calm, but heavy with thought. Xian Jianyu.
All bore the sect's emblem. All were silent.
All of them looked same age as him.
None of them spoke. Directing there attention to door once again.
Xian Ryu said nothing either. He moved to stand beside them.
They waited.
The silence lingered until a voice—deep, slow, and commanding—rang from within.
"Enter."
The heavy wooden doors groaned open.
A red carpet ran across the polished wooden floor inside, leading to a raised platform at the far end. The hall was vast, lit by glowing mana-lanterns suspended in rings from the ceiling. Pillars of black wood rose toward the vaulted roof, carved with dragons, demons, and flames.
Twelve ornate chairs lined each side of the chamber, all empty now.
At the platform's center stood a throne-like seat carved of bloodwood. Its back was tall, crowned with spikes.
One man sat there.
His white hair poured down like silk, reaching the floor beside the throne. He wore a red robe, loose and open at the chest. His body, though lean, radiated presence. One leg rested on the armrest, the other placed on a small stool at foot of chair. As if laying on throne. His posture was lazy, but the room bent around him.
His eyes—those same cursed violet —stared off into the far corner of the hall.
This was the Heavenly Demon.
As they aproched the stairs for raised platform.
The four kneeled in unison.
Fist to palm, voices low but firm, they spoke in unison:
"The Demon Lord is invincible."
"Long live the Demon Lord."
"Long live the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect."
The white-haired man didn't move. He spoke without looking, his gaze still on far corner of room.
"Rise."
They stood as one.
His gaze remained on the corner of the room, as if the rest of them were smoke.
"Are your preparations complete?"
"Yes," the four answered.
He nodded once, then raised his hand lazily. At his gesture, another figure appeared—kneeling beside the throne.
Long red hair spilled from beneath a bone-white mask shaped like a demon's skull. A black robe hugged a broad frame, and a sword rested across his back. The aura he gave off was crushing. His presence alone sucked heat from the room.
The Left Wing Demon.
A direct guard of Heavenly Demon.
He bowed low without a word.
The Demon Lord gestured again.
"Xian Lianhua."
The silver-haired girl stepped forward.
The Left Wing Demon appeared in front of her instantly, kneeling, offering a scroll with both hands.
"This scroll contains every martial art of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect. Preserve and protect them."
Lianhua kneeled, head bowed.
"I will not disappoint the Heavenly Demon."
"Ghost Troops will serve you."
She nodded once, took the scroll.
"Xian Zhenyu."
The red-haired man stepped forward. The Right Wing Demon appeared again, presenting a black token etched in silver with both hands.
"This token grants you command over our hidden branches beyond the border. The Death Troops are yours."
Zhenyu accepted it with both hands, and stepped back.
"Xian Jianyu."
The brown-haired man took his step forward. The Left Wing Demon again knelt, this time holding a ring of purple crystal.
"With this, you command the Assassin Troops. The Blood Troops follow your command."
Jianyu slipped the ring on his finger, bowing stepped back.
And then...
"Xian Ryu."
For the first time, the man on the throne turned his head.
His eyes locked onto the black-haired boy.
Ryu stepped forward.
The Left Wing Demon unsheathed a crimson katana in his hand, holding it out flat in both hands. The blade pulsed faintly.
"This is the Bloodmoon. A relic of the First Heavenly Demon. It is yours."
Ryu took the blade. It felt alive as he ran his hand on blade.
"You will command the Left Wing Demon directly," the man said. "You all now bear a quarter of the Heavenly Demon's authority and strength."
His voice dropped.
"Use it wisely."
He looked back toward the corner of the room.
"With these, you each now hold the legacy of our sect. Use it wisely."
He exhaled slowly. "You are my children. The only ones who survived the Trial of the Blood Demon Cave. Five years in hell. Five years without light. Five year of hunger, betrayal, back stabing. And now you returned. Now, take the forces I've given you. Escape this land. Head west. Infiltrate the kingdoms. Gather strength. Revive the sect. Let the world know that the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect is not dead."
His voice dropped to a low growl. "We rise from ashes."
"Long live the Heavenly Demon."
"Long live the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect."
Heavenly demon spoke again " Left wing demon will guide you."
With that, the siblings bowed once more. The Left Wing Demon gestured. A door at the side opened, and they turned to leave.
Ryu was the last to move.
As he walked toward the exit, his eyes flicked toward the shadowed corner of the hall. There, chained to the wall, was a woman.
Her body hung limp, blood oozing from open wounds. Her black hair was now a dark crimson, soaked in her own blood. Her face bruised, her breath shallow.
Xian You.
His mother.
Her gaze met his. She smiled weakly. It was the smile of a mother proud of her child, even in moment of death.
Ryu's expression did not change. He met her eyes for a moment, then turned away, face cold.
He followed the others into the night.
Behind them, the doors closed with a final, echoing thud.
The Demon Lord sat in silence, staring once more into the dark corner, where the only sound was the quiet drip of blood onto stone.
TO BE CONTINUE...
(Author note: creating murmim theam is hard, i don't know if it's like i imagined and wanted to convey)