Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 122

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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 122. The Match in the Light, the Hunt in the Shadows (1)

 

Jegal Ryun’s face was filled with unease as he read the martial arts historical records by the light of a single candle.

 

“…Certainly.”

 

Thinking he might have misread, he reread it several times from the beginning.

 

The result was no different.

 

“Just as that fellow said.”

 

The process of the Moyong Family being driven out to Hubei was somehow not smooth.

 

Jegal Ryun recalled Moyong Bi’s words.

 

‘If there had been a convincing reason, whatever it was, they should have all been imprisoned in Thunder Prison or executed according to Alliance Law.’

 

‘If they had at least exiled them to the southernmost Central Plains or islands beyond the sea, that would be one thing. But Hubei? What’s the meaning of that?’

 

It was such an obvious point that it wouldn’t be strange to call it excessive.

 

Yet people didn’t harbor suspicions about that part.

 

Why on earth?

 

‘Or did they deliberately turn a blind eye?’

 

Was it because I was too busy with official duties and training for the family and my own future during those hectic times that I couldn’t pay attention either?

 

Even so, when the great Moyong Family fell to such a state, why didn’t anyone think that part was strange?

 

‘The elders…?’

 

At that age, he wasn’t in an important position within the family. Among the young blood of that era, only his older brother, the current clan leader, held a position of responsibility.

 

The elders acknowledged that the Moyong Family had certainly committed wrongs, and said nothing about their treatment.

 

‘Why didn’t those brilliant people point out this issue? If that wasn’t the case, was there a reason they specifically relocated them to Hubei instead of Thunder Prison or exile?’

 

He didn’t know.

 

The only thing he could be certain of right now was that the Moyong Family being driven to Hubei was strange in itself.

 

And one more thing.

 

‘There’s something I don’t know.’

 

Jegal Ryun once again recalled that era.

 

It was almost twenty years ago and an extremely busy time, but even so, his memory was vivid.

 

People throwing stones at the Moyong clan members.

 

Blind criticism and verbal abuse. Among them, there were even voices saying that the Moyong blood was truly filthy and they should capture even distant relatives to wipe out their entire lineage.

 

Looking back now, it was truly a chilling situation.

 

‘If they truly used and exploited the Ho Yeon Family like slaves, then they committed a grave sin. But….’

 

Why do laws exist?

 

If one commits a crime, it’s proper to receive punishment accordingly, and depending on the severity, it’s unavoidable to receive criticism beyond reproach.

 

But no matter how great the wrongdoing, the formation of public opinion calling for the killing of even newborn babies unrelated to the matter was going too far.

 

‘Perhaps it was because of the situation at that time.’

 

It was an era when only five years had passed since the end of a war that lasted a full twenty years.

 

Though the world had found stability, the anxiety of those who remained showed no signs of disappearing.

 

Rather, the spirits of people devastated by war were so sharp they could explode if touched wrongly. There were actually reports that over thirty percent of each region’s population suffered from mental illness due to horrific experiences.

 

War is terrible in itself, but the aftermath is also frightening.

 

Daily life collapsed, and countless warriors who went to the front lines ended their lives miserably, unable to overcome heavy drinking and mental illness.

 

Even with internal energy training and mental cultivation, it was difficult to overcome the horror that war produced.

 

‘Could it be that the madness of people at that time brought the Moyong Family to this state?’

 

Jegal Ryun soon shook his head.

 

‘That can’t be. No matter how much people were consumed by madness, how could they bring an innocent family to such a state….’

 

His head was complicated.

 

Looking back at facts he had considered natural until now, he felt as if they were rusted and bent in places.

 

‘I was also greatly shocked at that time.’

 

No, it wasn’t just that degree.

 

‘…I also criticized the Moyong Family.’

 

The leadership of the orthodox martial world had reached a conclusion, and the family elders had briefly explained the process.

 

Surely the elders wouldn’t have deceived him, their children and nephews. That trust was natural.

 

Decisively, the reason his anger reached the heavens at that time was because of one person.

 

‘Alliance Leader.’

 

Martial Alliance Leader Ho Yeon Cheon.

 

The strongest hero of the era, famous in orthodox martial arts by the alias Gwangmyeong Mujon, and notorious to enemies and villains as Mad Demon or Mad Demon Lord.

 

Though he had only conversed with him once, like countless other young men, he too respected the Martial Alliance Leader.

 

As time passed, he became someone whose face he couldn’t even properly remember, but at that time he was like that.

 

‘It turned out the Alliance Leader’s surname was Ho Yeon. The Moyong Family coveted the Alliance Leader’s talent and brought him by force, trying to raise him as the family’s slave and dark sword, using him as a puppet leader to make the family rise as a vanguard….’

 

As Jegal Ryun continued his thoughts, he suddenly felt bewildered.

 

‘Wait, does this make sense?’

 

At that time, there were also rumors that the Moyong Family used sorcery on the Ho Yeon clan or threatened Ho Yeon Cheon.

 

Among them, the most credible rumor was that Ho Yeon Cheon betrayed his family and defected to the Moyong Family to seize control of the world.

 

It was the theory claimed as the most plausible reason among various theories, and many people actually believed it.

 

Was that why? The reputation of Ho Yeon Cheon, who had legendary achievements at that time, had been considerably diminished by now.

 

As someone who was grateful for saving the martial world but had selfish aspects in private matters, a person with clear merits and faults.

 

‘What on earth….’

 

Now no one is curious about what happened twenty years ago.

 

This was because they believed the results were already out. Rather, because of various theories about Ho Yeon Cheon, people weren’t questioning the most important part and were only curious about which theory was real.

 

“…Gulp.”

 

Jegal Ryun felt goosebumps rising.

 

He felt fear at the foolishness of the crowd, including himself, for not trying to see the proper truth.

 

Surely there must have been those who wanted the truth. There must have been people who raised their voices saying it might not be the facts.

 

But now even such people had disappeared.

 

After all, such truth wasn’t more important than their current lives.

 

Swish.

 

Jegal Ryun closed the book and rubbed his temples with both hands.

 

A night of deepening thoughts.

 

The single candle was swaying precariously in the wind coming through the window crack.

 

How much time had passed like that?

 

“Excuse me….”

 

A familiar voice was heard from outside the door.

 

“Who is it? Chung Ho?”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“Come in.”

 

The door opened and Jegal Chung Ho entered.

 

A cautious and awkward attitude. He was no different from a mouse before a cat.

 

“What brings you here in the middle of the night?”

 

“I’ve brought a message from Young Master Moyong.”

 

Jegal Ryun shot up.

 

* * *

 

“Ka, Kang Won Gong?”

 

He was so flustered that a hoarse voice burst out.

 

Moyong Bi tilted his head.

 

“As expected, you know Kang Won Gong.”

 

“…?!”

 

“The Mu Dang Faction was a very interesting sect, wasn’t it?”

 

Ho Geom Jin In hurriedly straightened his expression.

 

“I don’t know what you mean. I was simply asking because I don’t know what Kang Won Gong is.”

 

“Then you also don’t know why Yeong Geom Jin In came here, or what that Yang Hyo Myeong fellow has been doing these past few years?”

 

It felt like silent lightning was sweeping down his spine. The thundering sound of his heartbeat rang in his ears.

 

Ho Geom Jin In instinctively drew up his internal power to forcibly stabilize his mind and body, then asked coldly.

 

“I was wondering where Young Geom had gone. Don’t tell me you’re connected to him?”

 

“You’re not even asking who Yang Hyo Myeong is.”

 

Oh no!

 

Ho Geom Jin In cleared his throat and said.

 

“Right, who is this Yang Hyo Myeong person?”

 

“A physician counted among the best at Myeongjin Hall – even an Elder of the Mu Dang Faction couldn’t possibly not know him, right? Especially if he’s close friends with Yeong Geom Jin In.”

 

Damn it!

 

“Ah, now I remember. Yes, there was someone with that name among the Myeongjin Hall physicians.”

 

“He’s also friends with Yeong Geom Jin In.”

 

“That’s possible. He’s someone I have no personal relationship with.”

 

“Then the Sect Leader must know Yang Hyo Myeong well. That man sent letters to the Mu Dang Faction several times, I hear.”

 

Just how much does this bastard know?!

 

“…I don’t know about that either.”

 

“Your words keep changing. Young Geom said that Jin In would know as many secrets about Kang Won Gong as the Sect Leader does.”

 

Ho Geom Jin In’s fists trembled.

 

“Nonsense. I don’t know what Kang Won Gong is.”

 

“The reason my martial arts developed is thanks to Kang Won Gong, but it seems you’re not interested after all.”

 

Moyong Bi nodded repeatedly with a satisfied expression.

 

“You’re truly worthy of being called Jin In. If it were Taoist Priests from Hwa San or Gon Ryun, they would have thrown principles aside and tried to kidnap me first.”

 

“…”

 

“But what does the Mu Dang Faction, which competes for the pinnacle of Taoism, lack that it’s so obsessed with Kang Won Gong?”

 

Ho Geom Jin In’s eyes completely darkened.

 

‘Damn it!’

 

He had made too many mistakes in an instant, caught up by his opponent.

 

Speech patterns he would never normally show. His opponent was relentlessly exploiting those gaps and seeing right through his inner thoughts.

 

‘Right, this bastard knew about us.’

 

Since the situation had come this far, further trivial conversation was unnecessary.

 

“…What is it that you want?”

 

“Don’t you think I’ve already obtained everything?”

 

“What?”

 

“Jin In’s expression, voice, speech patterns, aura… I have nothing more I want to find out.”

 

His cheek felt like it might start twitching.

 

The mistakes he had made in that brief moment were too great. And not just once, but several times in quick succession.

 

At this point, unless someone was an idiot, it would be hard not to know he was connected to Kang Won Gong.

 

“Let me ask directly.”

 

Whoooosh.

 

Sharp aura burst forth from Ho Geom Jin In’s body.

 

Any late-stage expert participating in the tournament would be intimidated before this aura and find it hard to even speak once.

 

But Moyong Bi was different.

 

He was a former Martial Alliance Leader, possessed innately transformed Infinite True Qi, and most importantly, the Three Pure Formula was superior to any divine art of the Mu Dang Faction.

 

Just as a tributary cannot flow back to the main stream, unless Ho Geom Jin In possessed enlightenment that could overwhelm Moyong Bi, pressuring him with aura was absolutely impossible.

 

Ho Geom Jin In was flustered again by his opponent’s composure, but he had already gone too far to turn back.

 

“Where did you put that bastard Young Geom?”

 

“Next to his neck.”

 

“What?”

 

Moyong Bi extended his hand.

 

Whoooosh.

 

The Infinite True Qi flowing out naturally dispersed Ho Geom Jin In’s energy wave.

 

Ho Geom Jin In’s mouth fell wide open.

 

“I left him next to the Mu Dang Faction’s neck. A position where one stab with a dagger would cause death from excessive bleeding.”

 

“…?!”

 

“For reference, I put Yang Hyo Myeong in front of the heart. It’s better to be certain about everything, don’t you think?”

 

“You, you bastard, what are you saying right now…!”

 

“Is there more to argue about?”

 

Whoosh!

 

Both men’s auras completely subsided.

 

One had voluntarily suppressed his aura, while the other had his aura forcibly contained by external influence.

 

“Go.”

 

“…”

 

“Go and do what you can.”

 

Speech patterns like those of an elder speaking to someone a generation younger.

 

Ho Geom Jin In looked at Moyong Bi with trembling eyes, then turned his body and said.

 

“You bastard, I don’t know what you’re plotting, but Mu Dang will never fall.”

 

“I don’t want the Mu Dang Faction to fall.”

 

All expression disappeared from Moyong Bi’s face.

 

“I’m just thinking of pulling out a few poisonous weeds that make the air on Moodang Mountain foul.”

 

Ho Geom Jin In, who had been trembling, hurriedly left the thicket.

 

A moment later.

 

“Young Master.”

 

“You’ve come.”

 

Jegal Lin said, swaying her slender body.

 

“Uncle wishes to see you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“But…”

 

“Hmm?”

 

Vivid surprise appeared on her previously expressionless face.

 

“That thing you sent to us earlier, was that really sound transmission?”

 

“You delivered my message without knowing that?”

 

“…Older Brother said he was certain.”

 

“You managed to send that guy who’s afraid of Uncle in the midst of all this.”

 

“It was bothersome to go myself.”

 

Though neither would want to admit it, the siblings really resembled each other.

 

Moyong Bi smiled and pointed outside the thicket.

 

“Let’s go to where Uncle is.”

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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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