Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 49
* * *
“Yeon Woo—”
After exchanging greetings with Gwan Yun, Yeon Woo stepped outside to find Am Yeong Ma-gun waiting—the one who had said he was going out on an errand.
Both Gwan Yun, who had come out with Yeon Woo, and the Gwan Family members who recognized him froze for a moment.
“You’re done with the greeting?”
Am Yeong Ma-gun approached Yeon Woo.
The sight of him tousling her hair and her pushing him away in protest struck everyone with astonishment.
“Master Am Yeong, I am honored to pay my respects.”
Gwan Yun stepped forward and clasped his fist in salute.
Am Yeong Ma-gun waved his hand lightly in response.
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to your blessing, I have lived in peace.”
“Hmm.”
Am Yeong Ma-gun stroked his chin, studying Gwan Yun for a moment. His lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Am Yeong Ma-gun knew what the Gwan Family had accomplished over the past five years.
They had crushed a rival house that had sent assassins to kill Yeon Woo, building up the clan’s power on the foundation of that family’s wealth and resources.
True to his word, Gwan Yun had stopped running and begun preparing to stand and fight.
“I’m looking forward to this Ma Ryong Gwan gathering. You feel the same, don’t you?”
“I do, sir.”
Am Yeong Ma-gun gave Gwan Yun’s shoulder several encouraging pats with a bright expression, then turned to leave.
“Shall we get going?”
“Wait a moment.”
Yeon Woo raised her hand, her gaze fixed on something in the distance.
“They should be arriving now.”
“Who? Oh.”
Am Yeong Ma-gun’s eyes turned toward the same point.
That kid should be around.
Presently, someone came rushing toward them from afar.
It was Gwan Hyeok and Baek Gang.
“Yeon, Yeon Woo!”
Gwan Hyeok was breathing heavily from his hurried sprint.
In contrast, Baek Gang greeted them with her usual composed expression, nodding her head in courtesy.
Yeon Woo smiled gently and patted Gwan Hyeok’s back as he caught his breath.
“Hello there! How have you been?”
Huff—gasp—
“You, you… when did you come back?”
“Today!”
“Why…”
“Why what?”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You should’ve sent for me!”
At Gwan Hyeok’s sudden outburst, Yeon Woo’s eyes widened for a moment. Then they narrowed into a sly smile.
“So you missed me that much?”
“That’s, that’s not it…!”
Oof!
Gwan Hyeok twisted away to dodge Yeon Woo as she lunged toward him.
His ears flushed crimson.
“You said you’d spar with me when you came back!”
“Right, that’s what I said, wasn’t it?”
Yeon Woo hmmed in thought.
“But I have to leave now. We said I’d arrive on time if I go right away.”
Because she had stayed longer than she’d planned, unwilling to part from Gwan Yun, time had grown short.
The Ma Ryong Gwan gathering was being held to the south of Shipman Daesan.
Departing from here in the northeast would take a full fifteen days of travel.
What should she do?
Yeon Woo was still deliberating when it happened.
“What?!”
Gwan Hyeok suddenly spun around in surprise, looking back at Baek Gang.
Baek Gang simply nodded, offering nothing more.
“…?”
Yeon Woo tilted her head.
At that moment, Am Yeong Ma-gun’s voice transmission reached her ear.
– Didn’t I say you’d probably win?
“What?”
Yeon Woo turned to look at Am Yeong Ma-gun.
Am Yeong Ma-gun chuckled, stepping forward with a grin.
“We’re short on time anyway, so let’s do this! A simple test of Inner Power. How about it?”
“Inner Power…?”
Gwan Hyeok asked, a touch flustered.
“That’s right—Inner Power. You know how to channel it, don’t you?”
Am Yeong Ma-gun’s gaze drifted to Gwan Hyeok’s Dantian.
The Dantian there was faint, only just barely formed—the stage where one had only begun to learn the Circulation Technique.
By contrast—
‘Our little one, though….’
Mm. Magnificent. Yes. Well-developed. Indeed.
“I, I suppose it’s possible, but….”
I’m not confident about it, though.
Gwan Hyeok hesitated.
“What is it, boy? Getting cold feet? Scared, are we?”
“No, I’m not! And—where did you pick up such crude language?!”
“Heh.”
“That’s not a compliment!”
What on earth happened over those five years?! To learn to speak like that from deep in the mountains?!
Gwan Hyeok found himself staring at Am Yeong Ma-gun without thinking.
Oh, how rude—the moment that thought crossed his mind, Am Yeong Ma-gun caught his gaze and gave a satisfied shrug with a “Heh.”
‘Why does he look so pleased with himself…?!’
Behind them, Gwan Yun could be seen letting out a sigh.
Gwan Hyeok surrendered on the spot.
In any case—
“Fine.”
Gwan Hyeok extended his hand.
Yeon Woo grinned and pressed her palm against his.
“You know the rules? Don’t let any killing intent slip through.”
A test of Inner Power was decided simply by each side releasing the strength they possessed.
There was no need to measure victory and defeat beforehand.
Without having to measure it, each would know best.
“Then….”
Gwan Hyeok was about to say to begin—
—when Yeon Woo shifted her pressed palm and interlaced her fingers with his, holding tight.
“…!”
“Can’t have my boy running away from me.”
A playful laugh tickled his ear like a whisper.
Gwan Hyeok’s lips parted slightly.
Now that he thought about it—
‘She’s… changed so much… in all this time….’
Whoooosh—
“…!”
In that instant, Gwan Hyeok’s eyes widened sharply.
Yeon Woo had begun to release her Energy.
Without thinking, Gwan Hyeok tried to pull back. But—
“I said no running away, boy.”
Yeon Woo tightened her grip on their joined hands and pulled him forward, leaving him no room to retreat.
“…!”
What… what was this?
Gwan Hyeok sensed defeat in that instant.
He could only summon a small measure of Inner Power. No matter how unfamiliar he was with gauging another’s strength….
‘It’s so clear. And….’
So… so vast?!
How could there be so much?
‘Just… how…?!’
But there was no time to be shocked.
Gwan Hyeok hastily drew up his own Inner Power.
He couldn’t retreat without trying anything at all.
He had to struggle, however slightly.
Compared to Yeon Woo’s power, his was so faint it left barely a trace.
And yet….
“Son, you haven’t been working hard?”
“That’s not true!”
Shhhhh—
Gwan Hyeok’s power flickered faintly where their hands met.
He’d worked hard as anyone could.
So that when he met Yeon Woo again in five years, he wouldn’t be outmatched. So he wouldn’t feel ashamed.
Rain or snow, he’d never missed a day of training. And through it all—
‘Through all of it, I climbed to this height—!’
At this level, wasn’t it a respectable achievement for someone his age?
“You…!”
Yeon Woo, you’re—
“You’re a monster!!”
Whoooosh—
The power that had barely begun to rise in Gwan Hyeok was instantly swept away by Yeon Woo’s surge.
No—devoured.
“This can’t be real!!”
Whoooooosh—
Gwan Hyeok found himself helpless in the current of Yeon Woo’s power that now enveloped them both.
Absolute dominance.
There was no other word for it.
Sshhhhh….
Gasp—! Ugh—gasp—
When Yeon Woo withdrew her power, Gwan Hyeok clutched his chest and drew ragged breaths.
It wasn’t threatening, but the oppressive pressure had left him breathless and gasping.
Gwan Hyeok wasn’t the only one overwhelmed.
……
Baek Gang, Gwan Yun watching from behind, and even the martial artists of the Gwan Family who fancied themselves skilled—
All stood with mouths agape, too stunned to utter a word.
‘What… in the world….’
Baek Gang swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on Yeon Woo.
Five years. Merely five years.
The girl she knew five years ago had possessed no martial arts whatsoever.
Yet somehow, in just five years, to reach this level….
‘Hmm.’
Meanwhile, Am Yeong Ma-gun watched the catching-his-breath Gwan Hyeok with an intrigued gaze.
‘So the Gwan Family’s third son is said to be skilled, is he.’
Not bad. He’s got some promise.
Had the Gwan Family’s martial arts truly originated from orthodox techniques?
His power is quite pure too.
He’ll be worth something if he develops well.
Am Yeong Ma-gun reached down and patted Gwan Hyeok’s head gently.
“…?, ??”
“Son, are you disappointed?”
Gwan Hyeok looked toward Yeon Woo.
Their hands were still clasped together.
“You really did work hard, didn’t you?”
“…Like I said. You’re a monster. How have you been living these past five years?”
“How? Well—”
I worked hard.
Yeon Woo laughed, a light, tickling sound.
It was as if that playful laughter traveled through their clasped hands, and somehow his palm felt warm.
“Son, I’m going now?”
“…I know. Be careful. Though it seems like you won’t be an easy mark either….”
Still. Ma Ryong Gwan was a truly dangerous place.
“I’ll take revenge for your son.”
“……!”
Gwan Hyeok’s pupils trembled finely.
“Since I stole what my son wanted, I’ll take his revenge in his place. That works, doesn’t it?”
“Sto….”
“……?”
“Stole it…! No, wait. Father bought you, didn’t he….”
Yeon Woo.
“So… don’t worry about revenge or anything….”
Gwan Hyeok turned his gaze sharply away.
“Just focus on staying alive….”
Yeon Woo’s mouth curved into a deep smile.
Knowing how fiercely Gwan Hyeok’s heart had burned for vengeance, Yeon Woo understood just how much affection lay beneath these words—how deeply he cared for her survival.
And knowing this, she nodded her head all the more emphatically.
“Yes!”
At that bright, clear voice, heat crept up Gwan Hyeok’s ears, turning them crimson.
“…Don’t die.”
* * *
Fifteen days later.
South of Shipman Daesan,
Ma Cheon Ryeong—a name given because black mist settles here once every fortnight.
At the midpoint of Ma Cheon Ryeong, on a high plateau carved out like a single peak, stood the Demonic Cult’s training grounds where all demonhood begins.
Ma Ryong Gwan was situated there.
Ma Ryong Gwan, which the First Heavenly Demon himself had chosen and built, had once been utterly isolated, but across the seven centuries since the Demonic Cult’s founding,
around Ma Ryong Gwan, Demon Cultivators had gathered to form a town, bustling with inns and taverns for the establishment’s visitors.
“Wow—”
Yeon Woo’s eyes went wide as saucers—she was seeing a city for the first time in her life.
And it wasn’t long before her jaw hung slack, drool beginning to dribble down her chin.

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