Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 118
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 118. The Watcher (3)
“Whew.”
Before entering the duel stage.
Namgung Gwan’s face was as calm as usual as he quietly caught his breath.
He hadn’t lost his composure, but he wasn’t completely without tension either. It was the ideal state for a warrior facing a match.
“Shall I start preparing?”
That’s when it happened.
“Not bad, eh?”
When he turned his head, Moyong Bi was walking over holding a skewer.
It seemed he had already finished several. His puffed cheeks reminded one of a toad.
“Moyong Sohyeop.”
“You look fine. I thought you’d either be extremely tense from pointless pride or too relaxed.”
Even with so much meat in his mouth, his pronunciation wasn’t garbled at all.
Namgung Gwan chuckled.
“This is definitely an opponent I want to beat.”
“By any chance, have you realized why the Changung Muae Heart Method is called the Changung Muae Heart Method?”
“Just a little.”
If he had realized even a little something, that’s where it begins.
Moyong Bi smiled and offered him a skewer.
“Have one before you jump in.”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
“I’m not someone who shares food easily.”
“That’s…”
Namgung Gwan was flustered. Even if he was confident of winning, this was an opponent he absolutely couldn’t be careless with. Right before a match where he might get seriously injured, not water but meat?
“No need to be overly tense, but he’s not an opponent to be relaxed with either? That’s right.”
“Pardon?”
“But what does that have to do with eating meat? If it’s really dangerous, you can create an opening by vomiting what you ate in your opponent’s face.”
“Ahem! Th-that’s a bit…”
“Isn’t losing without eating meat the same as losing after eating it? Conversely, if it’s a match you’ll win, you’ll win no matter what you do.”
“…!”
“People need to eat meat to have strength.”
Namgung Gwan, who had been quietly looking at the skewer, suddenly asked.
“Is this also a kind of enlightenment?”
“Where in the world is there a moment that isn’t enlightenment? Realizing while sleeping, realizing while taking a dump – that’s the life of a master.”
“…”
“Didn’t you finish warming up long ago?”
Namgung Gwan, who had been quietly watching Moyong Bi, took the skewer.
“It still smells good.”
“I only bought the delicious ones.”
Namgung Gwan pulled off a piece of meat and ate it.
“It’s indeed delicious.”
“Good thing you can taste it.”
Hearing those words, Namgung Gwan realized something. Since this morning, he hadn’t properly tasted any food he ate.
“Our sister says this: when something happens, try drinking fragrant tea first. If you can feel the tea’s aroma well, you’re in good condition, but if not, then you’re not normal.”
“That sounds quite reasonable.”
“Looks like you’re normal. Now go up.”
“Moyong Sohyeop.”
“Mm?”
“Thank you.”
Moyong Bi frowned.
“This fellow keeps saying thanks at random times? Hurry up and go. Give me the skewer if you’re done eating.”
“Yes.”
Namgung Gwan climbed onto the duel stage.
It was even before the judge called him. The spectators chanted Namgung Gwan’s name.
‘I can hear it.’
With his eyes closed, Namgung Gwan heard all the spectators’ voices.
Most were cheering for him, but some were cursing him. They seemed to prefer Hwangbo Seong.
That wasn’t all.
He could vividly feel everything – the blowing winter wind and each person’s intense gaze.
‘I see.’
Namgung Gwan finally realized. He thought he was moderately tense, but he had been more nervous than he thought.
When concentration reaches its peak, only the opponent should be visible.
But true masters know what’s happening around them while focusing on their opponent.
The difference between the real deal and mediocrity comes from there. At this moment, Namgung Gwan could briefly understand what the world of true masters was like.
‘True masters see and hear everything. Yet they don’t miss what’s important.’
Even masters who compete for being the best under heaven would sometimes lose this sensation. They too were human, and there were always fights too difficult to handle.
Still, the difference between those who had entered this ‘domain’ and those who hadn’t would be significant.
‘Thank you, Moyong Sohyeop.’
Someone who seemed indifferent yet always helped him realize important things at crucial moments.
Namgung Gwan was truly grateful to Moyong Bi.
That’s when it happened.
Whoosh!
He felt a fierce and violent aura.
Namgung Gwan slowly opened his eyes.
“Nervous?”
He saw Hwangbo Seong’s sneering face.
“Coming up this early, I must be quite frightening?”
“You are frightening.”
“Hm?”
Namgung Gwan smiled.
“Isn’t the martial world a place where even the greatest master can die from a single dagger thrust by a third-rate warrior? With someone of your level, being very tense still wouldn’t be enough.”
He wouldn’t engage in pointless psychological warfare. For Namgung Gwan, being genuine meant exactly that.
A twisted smile appeared on Hwangbo Seong’s face. The distortion was quite a sight, completely unsuited to his bold features.
“How confident you are. I’ll shatter that confidence the moment the match begins.”
“If you know I’m confident, why are you so agitated?”
“What?”
“Calm your excitement. If you want to have a good fight.”
Hwangbo Seong flinched involuntarily.
Rather, Namgung Gwan’s words felt like an even greater burden.
“…I don’t like that arrogance of yours.”
“I don’t particularly like your insolence either, but I do acknowledge you as a warrior.”
“Shut up and prepare to be crushed.”
“I know I could be defeated at any time.”
Hwangbo Seong said no more. The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was at a disadvantage.
The judge raised his hand.
Was it because of yesterday’s incident? The duel rules that let both sides proceed on their own had changed to starting with the judge’s signal.
Namgung Gwan placed his hand on his sword hilt.
‘I see.’
He realized one more thing.
Hwangbo Seong, who was glaring at him while breathing heavily, had already fully activated the Heavenly King Heart Method.
‘Moyong Sohyeop, as expected, people need to eat meat to gain strength.’
He could feel the meat that entered his stomach being finely broken down by gastric acid.
Above the screams of the meat, Moyong Bi’s voice could be heard.
“Where is there a fight that starts after getting fully prepared? Fights can break out while eating, or even while writhing in pain, can’t they?”
A true warrior does not make excuses.
If it’s a fight you’d lose just because you ate a piece of meat, then you’ve already lost to yourself before fighting your opponent.
Namgung Gwan muttered quietly.
“…That was a really delicious skewer.”
The judge’s hand came down.
Crack!
The two rushed toward each other.
The late-stage experts of the Six Families clashed spectacularly.
Moyong Bi smiled.
‘Smooth and flexible, now this is worth watching.’
Namgung Gwan’s arms and legs wielding the sword looked truly supple.
Even while pressing forward with the Namgung Clan’s characteristic Strong Sword technique, his flexibility stood out. It meant all unnecessary tension had completely left his body.
A physical reaction unrelated to internal energy.
This was proof that Namgung Gwan’s mind was perfectly controlling his body.
“Good.”
Moyong Bi glanced to the left.
Before he knew it, a middle-aged man was standing beside him, watching the fight.
It was none other than Jeong Gal Ryun.
“To think he could properly implement the Namgung Clan’s True Divine Ultimate Art to that extent. I heard he was making a name for himself in Anhui, but he’s much stronger than expected.”
Moyong Bi turned his head back to the duel stage.
Then Jeong Gal Ryun looked at him.
“What do you think?”
“He’s good.”
Moyong Bi’s voice was somehow blunt.
‘It’s unfair, so unfair.’
He now had to speak respectfully to someone he remembered as just a decent young man during his Alliance Leader days.
Even though there was no need to be hurt by such things at this point, it strangely felt unfair. If it had been a stranger, he wouldn’t have had such thoughts at all.
‘Did beating up that Bang Hyeon bastard cast a shadow of evil in my heart too? Ugh!’
Moyong Bi clicked his tongue inwardly.
Whether he knew his feelings or not, Jeong Gal Ryun continued speaking.
“The Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes are considered the greatest late-stage experts of the current martial world. They possess martial arts equivalent to sect leaders despite their young age. Simply put, they were born with monstrous talent.”
“That’s impressive.”
“But the world is vast and there are many masters. There are just as many geniuses.”
“Is that so.”
“In my view, you seem to be one of those geniuses too?”
“Let’s go with that.”
It was a truly insincere answer.
Jeong Gal Ryun wasn’t offended in the least.
“That martial art of yours, is it the Moyong Family’s basic technique?”
“What if it is?”
“To be able to drive Jin Cheon Gwang to that extent with basic techniques… truly impressive. Your understanding of martial studies doesn’t seem like that of today’s young people.”
You bastard, how old do you think I am to run your damn mouth like that!
‘Ugh.’
He just wished he would go away.
Then, Jeong Gal Ryun spoke in a lowered voice.
“I heard from Ja Dam Dojang.”
“…?”
“You caught a Ma In with her, didn’t you?”
Die, you blue-eyed bastard!
He had said it would be better not to carelessly inform the Muwang Sect, but she couldn’t even last a day before running to tell Jeong Gal Ryun.
‘Well, it couldn’t be helped.’
Actually, from Ja Dam’s perspective, it was natural.
A Ma In had appeared and unrelated people almost died. In fact, didn’t Yeong Geom Jin In suffer despite having no connection to the Ma In?
Although it was a past matter, it was natural to report it.
“It was a young man named Bang Hyeon from Bi Chang Moon?”
“That’s right.”
“…To think that Bi Chang Moon’s bloodline would be practicing demonic arts. Moreover, Bi Chang Moon was a sect that suffered greatly at the hands of Seongheolgung in the past.”
That’s what I’m saying.
“How did you discover the Ma In?”
“I just sensed the demonic energy.”
Jeong Gal Ryun’s eyes sharpened.
“Why did you go there alone without telling anyone around you? Were you that confident in your martial arts?”
Yes.
“It wasn’t a situation where I could consider the consequences.”
“In my view, you’re not only strong in martial arts but also have excellent judgment.”
“You think too highly of me.”
“Ja Dam Dojang earnestly requested me not to tell the Muwang people. When I asked why, she said Yeong Geom Jin In was sacrificed to the Ma In.”
This stupid-eyed Taoist Priest said all sorts of things. Why? Why didn’t she just spill everything?
“If Yeong Geom Jin In was sacrificed, it would have been more normal to report it. Yet she asked not to inform the Muwang Sect. Given Ja Dam Dojang’s personality, she wouldn’t have said such things due to conflicts with her sect brothers.”
“…”
“Did you tell her not to?”
“As I mentioned earlier, you tend to think too highly of me.”
“I pride myself on having lived this long without underestimating or overestimating people. At least I think so.”
“Congratulations. You’ve met the first young man you’ve overestimated in your life.”
“Let’s stop the jokes here.”
Jeong Gal Ryun’s gaze became sharp as a blade.
“Did you perhaps have some issue with Yeong Geom Jin In?”
“How could you possibly think that far?”
“If you told Ja Dam Dojang to keep quiet, the reason would be one of two things. Either you’re in league with the Ma In, or you had some uncomfortable business with the dead Yeong Geom Jin In.”
“You interpret a young man’s desire for caution quite strangely.”
“Then just tell me this one thing.”
“…”
“What happened to Yeong Geom Jin In?”
If I tell you that, you’ll figure everything out, you bastard.
Moyong Bi looked at Jeong Gal Ryun.
Jeong Gal Ryun’s gaze was exactly the same as when he had seen it long ago.
No, it wasn’t exactly the same. A veil of caution that comes with age had covered that terrifying passion.
Moyong Bi, who had been staring at him quietly, spoke as if tossing the words out.
“Do you like the Muwang Sect?”
“Should I answer that?”
“Please do.”
“I neither like nor dislike it.”
“Yeong Geom Jin In may be alive, or he may be dead.”
“If you like him?”
“He would be alive.”
“…If you dislike him?”
“He may be dead.”
Jeong Gal Ryun’s face immediately became serious.
“You, come have a talk with me.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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