CHAPTER 314: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK

Inside the temporary camp, the four of them sat around a small table.

Zain had just finished explaining that he wasn’t truly the Zain they had always known.

Savra crossed her legs and leaned back. "Alright then, now that we know the truth... what’s your real name?"

Velra raised her hand. "Yeah, I’ve been dying to know this."

"I mean, I serve you and all, but I don’t even know your past life name."

Zelia folded her arms and gave a small nod. "I’m curious too."

"The way you act, fight, and talk... you’re definitely not an ordinary person. Who were you really?"

Zain looked at the three women.

All of them stared at him with interest in their eyes.

He sighed and leaned forward with both arms resting on the table.

"Fine," he said. "Since you all know the truth already, I’ll tell you."

They leaned in slightly.

"In my past life..." Zain began, pausing for effect. "My name was... Mo Tianheng."

The three of them blinked.

"...Mo Tianheng?" Savra tilted her head.

Zain nodded. "Yeah. That was my name. I was known as the Heavenly Demon."

Savra slapped her knee. "So it really was you! The actual Heavenly Demon!"

"No wonder when you joined the Hero Association and picked that alias, it felt too natural."

Zain gave a small smirk. "I didn’t even bother hiding it much, honestly."

Velra blinked a few times. "Wait, wait, hold on..."

"Mo Tianheng? That sounds exactly like something from those old cultivation novels."

She held up two fingers dramatically. "Let me guess."

"You trained on a cold mountain peak for 300 years, had a demon sword, and had to fight a righteous sect because they killed your dog or something."

Zain laughed. "I didn’t have a dog. But you’re not that far off."

Zelia raised an eyebrow. "So... cultivation was real where you came from?"

"Yes," Zain said, nodding. "Qi, martial arts, demon sects, flying swords, pills, all of it."

Savra leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Okay, I need to know. How close are those cultivation web novels to the real thing?"

Zain rubbed his chin. "Surprisingly accurate. About eighty percent."

"They get the levels, the techniques, and even the annoying righteous sects right. Though the harem parts? Way exaggerated."

Velra gasped with a grin. "So you didn’t have ten wives?"

Zain pointed at her. "I didn’t say that."

Velra rolled her eyes. "Of course."

Zelia finally smiled slightly. "It’s strange, but... it makes sense now."

"Your presence. The way you took down people without blinking. How you never flinch when killing."

Savra rested her chin on her hand. "And how you act like everyone else is just... beneath you."

Zain shrugged. "Well. I was the strongest."

Velra smirked. "Still cocky even across worlds, huh?"

"Confidence," Zain corrected her.

"Same thing," Velra teased.

Savra leaned back. "So, Mo Tianheng. The Heavenly Demon."

"You died in your world and somehow woke up here, inside this body."

Zain nodded. "That’s the best I can explain it."

"Either reincarnated or possessed this body. The memories of this world’s Zain were already inside me."

Zelia looked thoughtful. "And I guess... the moment you awakened was when you killed our father."

Zain went quiet for a second, then slowly nodded.

"Yeah. That was the turning point. I saw everything that man did to you. To this body. To me."

Velra exhaled. "Well... I don’t care what name you had. Mo Tianheng or Zain, you’re still the one I follow."

Savra grinned. "Same here."

"Whether you’re a demon from a past life or just some grumpy guy with style, you’re still our leader."

Zelia smiled softly. "And you’re still my brother. That hasn’t changed."

Zain looked at all three of them.

"...Thank you."

Before anyone could respond, Zelia suddenly leaned forward.

"Zain. Or... Mo Tianheng," she said with a small grin.

"Can you tell us more about your old world? I mean, the cultivation world. What was it like?"

Savra nodded quickly. "Yeah, and what kind of story did you have there?"

"Were you born with power or did you climb your way up?"

Velra tilted her head. "Did you have a rival who wore white robes and swore to defeat you every year?"

Zain sighed and leaned back. "I already told you some parts, didn’t I?"

Zelia rolled her eyes. "Only a tiny part."

"You said you were the Heavenly Demon. That’s like saying ’I was important’ and stopping there."

Velra pointed at him. "Yeah, give us the drama. Who did you beat up? Did you destroy any sects?"

Savra smirked. "Did you have any lovers there?"

Zain gave her a look.

Savra raised her hands. "Just asking. Historical accuracy."

Zain rubbed his temples. "You three are going to keep asking until I talk, huh?"

All three nodded at the same time.

"Fine," Zain muttered. "Let me tell you."

He sat up straighter and looked up at the ceiling like he was remembering.

"I was born as a peasant boy. No status. No power. Just trash blood and a sick mother."

Zelia blinked. "That’s... not what I expected."

"I wasn’t always the Heavenly Demon," Zain continued.

"At first, I was just Tianheng, a kid who got beaten up by young masters and bullied by outer disciples."

Velra frowned. "So how did you go from that to Heavenly Demon?"

Zain’s eyes glinted. "Simple. I got kidnapped by the old Heavenly Demon."

Savra blinked. "Wait, what?"

"He kidnapped me. Tortured me. Trained me. Then I killed him and took everything."

There was a pause.

"...Damn," Velra whispered.

"You asked," Zain said.

Zelia shook her head. "So you didn’t become the Heavenly Demon through kindness and light?"

"No," Zain said. "I became it by surviving."

Savra chuckled. "Sounds about right."

Velra nodded. "Still, that’s kinda cool. But please tell me you at least had one sword that talked."

"...I had one that screamed when I used it," Zain said flatly.

The girls burst out laughing.

"Well," Zain added, "if you want more stories, I’ll need snacks."

"Deal," all three replied.