Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 11

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 11
“Grandfather—!!”
Just as Un Hyeon was about to unleash a tirade at Am Yeong Ma Gun, Yeon Woo grabbed his sleeve and dragged him away.
“Let’s go back quick—we said we’d eat rabbit meat! Right? I even brought salt—”
“Rabbit meat?”
Am Yeong Ma Gun’s eyes lit up with delight.
Watching that shameless attitude—showing not the slightest remorse for his own transgressions—Un Hyeon pressed his temples and exhaled a quiet sigh.
Right. That’s what members of the Demonic Sect were.
Born brazen and utterly lawless.
Five masters-class warriors descended to kill a single child—what difference did it make whether it was him or anyone else?
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Un Hyeon ceased his thoughts about Am Yeong Ma Gun and took Yeon Woo’s hand.
Any more thinking would surely shorten his own lifespan.
He’d meant to ignore the man and simply do what needed doing.
But then—
“…What exactly are you doing right now?”
Un Hyeon stared at Am Yeong Ma Gun, who sat across from him and Yeon Woo before the campfire, innocently warming himself against the flames.
When they’d climbed the mountain, the man had seemed so keen, trailing along as if it were some grand adventure.
Strange as it was, Un Hyeon had chosen to ignore him rather than engage.
“The rabbit meat smells delicious, doesn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm! Really delicious! With salt sprinkled—sprinkle-sprinkle!—when you eat it—mmm!”
“Really, really? Ah—I’m so excited—”
How was this happening? The two of them bantering away like old friends!
Un Hyeon dumped the dry branches he’d collected on the way and cried out.
“Why are you getting your hopes up like that! There’s none for you!”
“I already knew you’d say that. I caught some on the way.”
Am Yeong Ma Gun produced two rabbits from his waist as if he’d been waiting for just this moment.
Yeon Woo cheered with delight—”Wow—two rabbits!”—
Un Hyeon stared in disbelief.
But that lasted only a moment before his expression hardened again, and he shouted.
“Are you seriously asking me to roast meat that hasn’t even been cleaned? You know how hungry Yeon Woo is—”
“Ha!”
Am Yeong Ma Gun suddenly hurled a rabbit skyward and drew his blade.
Then, with several swift strokes—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—the rabbit was perfectly butchered, meat and hide completely separated, the innards nowhere to be seen.
Un Hyeon’s jaw dropped.
Yeon Woo burst into applause.
…….
Watching Am Yeong Ma Gun puff up with pride before Yeon Woo’s applause, Un Hyeon’s headache deepened.
Un Hyeon eventually abandoned any attempt to exclude Am Yeong Ma Gun and quietly roasted the meat.
* * *
After the meal, Am Yeong Ma Gun—who seemed like he’d leave any moment—lingered even as Yeon Woo resumed training.
He ran alongside Yeon Woo as the child climbed back and forth up the mountain, cheering him on; or he’d perch atop a large boulder and watch with amused giggles.
When they moved to yesterday’s mountain under the pretense of fetching the dried meat they’d left behind, he followed along and savored the meal with Yeon Woo once more.
Thus, vaguely and without clarity, a day passed.
“Nngh… Yeon Woo sleepy….”
After training more rigorous than the day before, Yeon Woo wolfed down dinner and promptly collapsed into sleep.
Click.
Yeon Woo’s door shut, and soon the soft, rhythmic breathing of the sleeping child drifted out.
Un Hyeon confirmed there were no nearby presences, checked that all was safe, and only then turned to look behind him.
Am Yeong Ma Gun stood with arms crossed, a contented smile on his face as he gazed toward Yeon Woo’s room.
“Why haven’t you left?”
Un Hyeon’s voice had turned cold—so different from how he spoke to Yeon Woo—and Am Yeong Ma Gun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why do you keep trying to chase me away? Are we strangers?”
“We are.”
Worse than strangers, even.
Originally fated to kill and be killed, we are people who should never have grown close, could never grow close.
‘In fact, right now—’
This man before him was someone who might take his life without a moment’s hesitation.
“Are you going to break my heart?”
Go ahead, then.
“And please, just leave.”
“That’s too much. Telling me to get out like that….”
Watching him pout, Un Hyeon’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Did I just….’
Switch my words and thoughts around?
It was a slip, but Un Hyeon brushed aside his embarrassment.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t even wrong what he’d said.
Seeing Un Hyeon like that, Am Yeong Ma Gun chuckled and pulled something from his robe.
A sheet of paper, folded a couple of times.
“I’ve brought news you’ll want to hear.”
“What is it?”
“News from the Central Plains.”
“……!”
Un Hyeon’s expression hardened.
He strode forward and snatched the paper from Am Yeong Ma Gun’s hands, unfolding it swiftly.
As he read, his face darkened by the second.
“Is this true?”
Am Yeong Ma Gun smiled faintly.
“Why, don’t you believe it? Because a Demonic Sect Member provided the information?”
“…….”
Instead of answering, Un Hyeon crumpled the paper in his fist.
[· Head of the Nangong Clan, Supreme Sword Master Un Hyeon, dies confronting the Heavenly Demon.
· The Nangong Clan elevates the Supreme Sword Master’s younger brother, Nangong Mo Hyeon, as the new head.
· The Martial Alliance, inheriting the Supreme Sword Master’s will, recruits a new Demonic Sect Suppression Force.]
Information that all of it wished not to believe.
Yet information that all of it could not help but believe.
Those who sought to kill him would surely steer events to their advantage.
‘They’d even use my own death.’
Detestable creatures.
Un Hyeon’s hand trembled faintly, clutching the paper.
“Why did you give me this?”
“Because you’re the Supreme Sword Master.”
“What use is that?”
Given how things stood in the Central Plains, there was nothing he could do now.
“The Supreme Sword Master died on Snow Mountain that day.”
“Have you no thought of returning?”
“Only those who have somewhere to return to speak of returning.”
“Then would you join our sect?”
Un Hyeon’s brow compressed sharply.
His gaze toward Am Yeong Ma Gun grew keener.
“I would sooner die than betray the spirit and righteousness of the Nangong name of my own will.”
“So you’re saying you’ll go back after all.”
Am Yeong Ma Gun let out a hollow laugh.
Un Hyeon could not deny it.
Even if he could not return to the Nangong Clan or the Martial Alliance, he knew in his heart he would one day go back to the Central Plains.
He had no wish to spend his remaining years in the One Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the Demonic Sect’s domain.
That was why he had promised to take Yeon Woo there.
Am Yeong Ma Gun stepped closer to the silent Un Hyeon.
“Don’t you want revenge?”
A whisper, yet unmistakable.
The voice was sweet as honeyed temptation, but Un Hyeon merely laughed lightly and turned his head away.
“Demonic Sect Members….”
“You know that’s a dangerous thing to say, right?”
“Kill me if you wish.”
“Hmm… no. Even like this, I’m someone who honors his promises.”
Promises?
Un Hyeon turned to look at Am Yeong Ma Gun with a puzzled expression.
But Am Yeong Ma Gun only shrugged, his face unreadable.
Un Hyeon turned to leave.
He had long since learned that asking when he would return was a waste of time.
Yet Un Hyeon’s steps toward home came to an abrupt halt.
“The Central Plains won’t be able to move against us so easily.”
“What do you mean?”
Un Hyeon turned to look back at Am Yeong Ma Gun.
“Exactly as I said. They speak of assembling a new suppression unit against the Demonic Sect, but they won’t be able to act quickly. There will be rivalries over power and influence to settle first.”
Surely there would be conflicts between factions over precedence.
“They may have announced my death, but they haven’t found my body. I doubt they’ve managed to convince every school and clan of it.”
“Does belief matter so much? The Nangong Clan has already installed a new family head.”
“I was meant to be the Alliance Lord of the Martial Alliance.”
Though he had been betrayed by those he trusted and brought to this state, there were still not a few in the Central Plains who believed in and trusted Un Hyeon.
Moreover, since his cause of death had been proclaimed as falling in battle against the Demonic Sect, which school or clan would dare to slight a martial artist who died fighting for the Central Plains?
“So long as a majority of martial artists refuse to accept my death, the consensus will lean toward finding my body rather than launching a suppression campaign.”
They would choose righteousness over vengeance.
“Mm.”
Am Yeong Ma Gun stroked his chin with evident interest.
“So the Orthodox Faction really does love appearances. They’re the sort who can’t draw a blade without justification?”
“We simply value benevolence and righteousness.”
“Which is precisely why it’s all so tedious.”
Just slice through them and be done with it.
“Care to join our sect?”
“Now get out of here.”
Un Hyeon turned and walked away.
Finding something amusing in that thorough dismissal, Am Yeong Ma Gun burst into laughter.
Leaving that laughter behind, Un Hyeon entered his room in earnest.
With a final thought of “thanks for the information,” Un Hyeon’s door closed.
Even as he affected annoyance, he had not abandoned the ways of an Orthodox Faction martial artist—and this too drew another laugh from Am Yeong Ma Gun.
Click.
The door shut, and a heavy silence settled in.
Am Yeong Ma Gun turned with a low hum.
‘So they’ll come looking for the body rather than to suppress us….’
Either way, they will come.
And if the Supreme Sword Master speaks truly, then those who come searching for the body will be those who once followed the Supreme Sword Master.
‘The Supreme Sword Master….’
Am Yeong Ma Gun glanced back at Un Hyeon’s room.
‘Did he anticipate that they would come?’
Behind the mask, violet eyes grew cold and still.
A moment later, a faint smile leaked from his lips.
“So that’s it.”
He had always intended to return.
* * *
Early morning.
Whoosh—
Un Hyeon, who had been cultivating energy in his room, opened his eyes at some point.
Un Hyeon immediately gathered his sword and left the room.
But the moment he pushed the door open, an arm blocked his path.
……
Un Hyeon frowned and looked up at whoever was blocking his way.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————