Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 63

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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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Chapter 63
* * *
One quarter hour earlier.
When Yeon-woo arrived, Baek Yeol-han and Sa-ma Hyeon’s eyes widened at the spread of dishes laid out in the room.
One of the privileges granted to those who passed the first test with excellent marks.
Delicacies served at each meal and an endless supply of refreshments had been arranged throughout their quarters.
‘We… we….’
‘All we get is one rice ball per meal….’
Envy gnawed at them.
And hunger clawed at their bellies.
The two of them stared at the table, saliva pooling at the corners of their mouths.
There were two meat side dishes, along with various seasoned vegetables and steamed fish.
Since yesterday, they’d eaten nothing but rice balls.
On top of that, they’d spent the entire day moving their bodies, and just moments ago they’d endured brutal training under the threat of death itself.
Faced with such food in that state, their stomachs couldn’t help but rumble loudly.
“Let’s eat!”
“Thank you! I’ll eat well!”
“I’m grateful for this meal!”
The two scrambled to grab chopsticks and reach for the food.
But then.
Tap—tap!
“Ow!”
“Ah!”
It happened in an instant.
Something struck the hands of both men holding their chopsticks, and they reflexively dropped them.
It was Yeon-woo’s spoon that had struck their hands.
The two men looked at Yeon-woo in bewilderment, rubbing their stung hands.
“Why… why…?”
Was he really unwilling to share?
“Don’t eat it.”
So that was it, then….
Just as disappointment began to settle over them.
“You eat that, you die.”
“What…?”
Baek Yeol-han’s face went pale.
Eat it… and they’d die…?
“Is it poisoned?”
“?!”
Baek Yeol-han looked toward Sa-ma Hyeon.
“What… what did you say?”
Sa-ma Hyeon raised an eyebrow with an air of exasperation.
“Didn’t you hear the same thing I did? That eating it means death. And what else is poison but something that kills you when you eat it?”
“But…!”
It seemed hard to believe….
“This is Maryong Hall, isn’t it??”
“Ah… you’re quite naive.”
Sa-ma Hyeon adjusted the Small Crown on his head.
“It’s not ‘it’s Maryong Hall, isn’t it?’—it’s precisely because it is Maryong Hall. This place is perfectly suited for dying if you maintain such a carefree attitude. Weren’t you aware?”
“That’s the strange thing—why would you know that?!”
Maryong Hall was a place for cultivating and selecting martial artists of the Divine Cult who would serve the Heavenly Demon.
To learn, to grow stronger, to become talent that would bolster the Divine Cult.
How could such a place be perfectly suited for dying?!
“Didn’t your family teach you even these basic precautions?”
“Precautions? My family just…!”
“Safe travels, Yeol-han! Take care of yourself!”
“Don’t overexert yourself. Just do what you can.”
“Brother! Go out there and crush them all!”
They’d simply sent him off with encouragement….
With joy and excitement in their hearts.
“This is precisely why minor martial families cannot succeed. What on earth do you think Maryong Hall is?”
“Well, so where’s your family from?! You haven’t even told me your name yet!”
“….”
A brief silence fell.
Sa-ma Hyeon’s face darkened in an instant.
‘What, what’s this?’
Had he asked something he shouldn’t have? Should he apologize?
Just as Baek Yeol-han began to feel a flicker of alarm,
“Hyeon. That’s my name. As for my family—don’t ask about it. It would be troublesome.”
“Oh…? Yes, of course.”
As if learning one family name would cause any real harm.
‘No doubt some minor house.’
If he’d been the heir of a major clan, they would never have let him enter without teaching him martial arts first.
“So, what are these precautions you mentioned?”
Sa-ma Hyeon exhaled sharply and adjusted the Small Crown on his head.
“Maryong Hall is essentially a microcosm of the Demonic Sect. On the surface, it’s a place where innocent disciples compete for positions and titles within the Divine Cult, but beneath that lies a bitter power struggle that few openly acknowledge.”
“A power struggle…?”
“The thing is, the disciples here will soon become the pillars supporting the Divine Cult itself. No one can predict how each disciple will grow or what power they’ll wield. That’s the heart of it.”
“Well… that makes sense.”
That’s why everyone stakes their lives on the Maryong Hall examination, after all.
For lesser families, simply obtaining a high position in the Divine Cult can elevate their entire house’s standing.
“Precisely. Which is why they will ruthlessly kill any disciple who emerges as a threat to their future position—no matter how young that disciple might be.”
“…!”
Baek Yeol-han’s face went pale.
‘So you’re saying….’
They’re trying to kill Yeon-woo, who took first place in the first examination?
By poisoning the food?!
Baek Yeol-han spun toward Yeon-woo with a stricken expression.
“Is it really poisoned?”
Yeon-woo shrugged with casual indifference.
“I don’t know.”
“…But you said eating it would kill you.”
“Yeah.”
“…?”
Yeon-woo looked down at the food as he spoke.
“Whether it’s poison or not, I can’t say. But something strange is mixed in it, and if you eat enough, you’ll die.”
“That’s….”
That is poison, isn’t it….
‘More than that….’
Why is he so calm about it? He nearly died. Isn’t he frightened?
‘Knowing it’s poison and still acting this unconcerned….’
Neither of these two is quite right in the head.
“In any case.”
Baek Yeol-han rubbed his throbbing temple.
“Who put it in? Do you have any suspects?”
Yeon-woo shook his head.
“None…wait.”
As if remembering something, he looked up abruptly.
“That person I fought earlier?”
“Who… oh, you mean the sparring match? Gwang-o?”
“Yeah, him. I didn’t get his name.”
“His name isn’t important—he goes by Gwang-o. The Crazy Raven. I picked up that much too. Anyway, if it’s him….”
Possible, yeah.
“But it couldn’t be Gwang-o. I heard he hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
“You do pick things up quickly, don’t you?”
“Ha, is that a compliment? Thanks.”
Baek Yeol-han asked again.
“Anyone else?”
Yeon-woo shook his head.
It was the answer he’d expected.
‘With him, even if someone came to kill him, he’d probably try to be friends with them afterward….’
“First, might I suggest we visit the Cooking Hall?”
“The Cooking Hall?”
“Where the meals are prepared. Since the poison was in the food, we may find clues there.”
Yeon-woo’s eyes lit up at the mention of the place where food was made.
“Yes, yes! I really want to go there!”
I want to see how they make such delicious food!
“Then right now—”
“Wait, wait, wait!!”
Baek Yeol-han stepped in front of the two who were about to leave at once.
He cried out as if bewildered.
“What are you saying?! You think we can find whoever poisoned the food with our current strength?”
“That is only natural.”
“Right!”
Yeon-woo simply wanted to visit the Cooking Hall!
“Don’t speak of reckless actions as if they’re obvious, will you?”
Yeol-han pressed his forehead again.
“It’s a matter of life and death! It was aimed at Yeon-woo, but we nearly all died…!”
“Which is why we should find the culprit right away—”
“Which is why we must naturally inform the Instructors and ask for their help!”
Baek Yeol-han whirled around to face Sa-ma Hyeon.
Sa-ma Hyeon trembled slightly under that blazing gaze.
“If what you say is true, whoever is targeting Yeon-woo may be an enemy we cannot face! Moving carelessly could put us in greater danger!”
“That is… true, but—”
It was true, though….
“However, by that same logic, the Instructors themselves may not be safe. Might they not have poisoned the food themselves?”
“That’s also true. But even so, it’s too dangerous for us to act alone.”
“It’s just visiting the Cooking Hall, what could—”
“You! You’re the one in the most danger!”
You wretch who cares nothing for martial arts!!
Memories of their sparring match surfaced, and Baek Yeol-han trembled with indignation.
For reasons unclear, Sa-ma Hyeon could only step back, overwhelmed by Baek Yeol-han’s aggressive momentum.
Or rather, he was simply afraid of being struck.
“…I understand. Then I shall accompany the Instructor.”
* * *
The three made their way directly to the Instructor’s Hall.
The Instructor’s Hall was the residence of the Twelve Instructors of Maryong Hall, and served as the space where all manner of business and meetings took place.
Yet the three had no need to enter the hall.
On the way in, they encountered Archery Gyojoo and Byeok Gyojoo.
The three, having received instruction from them before, felt some relief at meeting a familiar face and explained the situation to Byeok Gyojoo.
“You say what?”
Byeok Gyojoo’s expression grew serious as he took the ball of rice that Baek Yeol-han had handed him.
He had wrapped a small amount in case proof was needed.
“You think poison was in it?”
“Yes.”
Byeok Gyojoo turned the rice over and over with a puzzled look, then sniffed at it.
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“That’s… it appears fine on the surface, but it seems to be a colorless and odorless poison.”
“How did you know it was colorless and odorless?”
“Well, that was….”
Baek Yeol-han hesitated slightly.
He had naturally assumed there was poison because Yeon-woo had said so.
To Baek Yeol-han, this was just rice.
Now that he thought about it, how had Yeon-woo known there was poison in it?
‘That….’
He hadn’t even asked that.

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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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