Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 129

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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 129. Winter Rain (4)

 

Moyong Bi and Namgung Gwan, who had left Ho Geom Jin In in the care of Sama Jin Gung and Jegal Ryun, descended the mountain.

 

The rain continued to fall.

 

Pitter-patter.

 

The sound of raindrops hitting the bare tree branches was strangely desolate.

 

It was when the forest leading to Juru’s backyard was not far away that Namgung Gwan, who had been following in silence, opened his mouth.

 

“Moyong Sohyeop.”

 

“Speak.”

 

Unexpectedly, Moyong Bi’s voice was not gloomy.

 

The same voice as usual. A voice overflowing with vibrant energy.

 

Namgung Gwan sighed.

 

“I have no words to say.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Just…”

 

“…”

 

“Just… I’m sorry.”

 

“What do you have to be sorry about that you’re apologizing?”

 

Namgung Gwan wanted to say.

 

As a member of the orthodox faction, as one of the Nine Factions and Six Families who received people’s admiration and respect, he was sorry.

 

As Moyong Bi said, it wasn’t something he did, nor something the Namgung Clan did, but Namgung Gwan wanted to apologize.

 

“Sharp Tongue Young Master.”

 

“Yes, Sohyeop.”

 

“Living life, you know, the world where people live is all the same everywhere.”

 

Though there was only a four-year age difference, Namgung Gwan felt no sense of incongruity from Moyong Bi’s words.

 

It had always been that way. From the first time he saw him, he couldn’t think of Moyong Bi as someone younger than himself, and even after learning his age, he never thought of treating him as an elder.

 

To be precise, he couldn’t.

 

Regardless of whether he himself was outstanding or not, Moyong Bi was such an extraordinary person.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Just because someone’s from the orthodox faction doesn’t mean they’re all righteous, and just because they’re from the dark path or unorthodox faction doesn’t mean they’re all evil.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“The division into orthodox and unorthodox factions was wrong from the start. Does being recognized as part of the Martial Alliance and becoming orthodox mean you can kill people freely?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“In other words, the standard for dividing right and wrong is a person’s words, actions, and the life they’ve lived, not their affiliation. But people don’t think that way.”

 

“…”

 

“Actually, that’s not entirely bad. Even if I’m a bit of a bad guy, if I’m recognized as orthodox, I become careful with my words and actions even though I wasn’t originally like that. That kind of thing should be seen as a good influence.”

 

“…”

 

“Still, it doesn’t seem like the right direction.”

 

Namgung Gwan thought Moyong Bi’s words were correct.

 

An orthodox person committed evil? Then that’s not an orthodox person who committed evil, but just an evil person.

 

An unorthodox person did good deeds? Then that’s not an unorthodox person who did good, but just a good person.

 

Righteousness and wickedness exist only in a person’s heart. As Moyong Bi said, the binary logic of Jianghu’s martial world might be a formless monster that arbitrarily toys with human words and actions.

 

And perhaps those who don’t belong to any faction and freely roam Jianghu might understand this better.

 

A bitter smile crossed Namgung Gwan’s face.

 

‘Sohyeop always gives me enlightenment.’

 

He must have guessed his feelings and brought up the topic of right and wrong.

 

Moyong Bi was saying that just because they were from the same orthodox faction, just because they were prestigious families, there was no need to feel sorry.

 

“Is that why?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“You said you would only punish those involved in the incident and not touch the other Taoist Priests.”

 

“Isn’t that natural?”

 

“Of course it is, but… if it were me, I think I would hate the entire Mu Dang Faction.”

 

“Not hatred, but I was a bit disappointed.”

 

“I think that’s admirable.”

 

“Nothing admirable about it. If my body was still in the gutter, I might have hated the entire Mu Dang Faction as Sharp Tongue Young Master said.”

 

Honestly, it was hateful.

 

If it had been my own matter, I would have thought about it much more coldly. But what the Mu Dang Faction bastards touched wasn’t me, but my Great Grand Nephew.

 

I was so angry that the lid of my Brain Gate Heart Technique almost blew off. I wanted to immediately go to Moodang Mountain and kill every Taoist Priest in sight.

 

But…

 

‘I wouldn’t have the face to see you if I did that.’

 

Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.

 

Had his resentment been resolved by catching even Ho Geom?

 

Great Grand Nephew was crying.

 

The coldly falling teardrops became warm when they touched my body.

 

‘This is just the beginning, so save your tears for now.’

 

A moment later.

 

“I’ll go separately.”

 

Moyong Bi didn’t ask where he was going.

 

“Tomorrow is the first match of this tournament, right? I’ll definitely come to cheer you on.”

 

“Young Master Namgung.”

 

Namgung Gwan’s eyes widened. It was the first time Moyong Bi, who had only called him Sharp Tongue, addressed him as Young Master Namgung.

 

“Yes, yes?”

 

Moyong Bi silently extended his hand.

 

Namgung Gwan, who had been looking at that hand with trembling eyes, grasped it firmly.

 

“Sharp Tongue.”

 

“…?”

 

“It hurts, so ease up on the strength.”

 

“Cough! I’m, I’m sorry!”

 

Namgung Gwan quickly released his hand and stepped back, taking a respectful posture.

 

“You worked hard today. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

With that, Namgung Gwan disappeared down the outer path.

 

Moyong Bi, alone again, walked the path.

 

Pitter-patter-patter.

 

‘Hey, I told you to endure it.’

 

The raindrops became a bit heavier.

 

With each step, the cold energy rising thickly felt like it was grabbing at his ankles.

 

‘With this, the Mu Dang Faction bastards won’t be able to touch us for a while.’

 

Sama Jin Gung was a person from the Sama Family.

 

Though fallen now, it was once a family with such great influence that it produced a Grand Strategist for the Martial Alliance.

 

Thanks to that, I heard they had an uncomfortable relationship with the Jegal Clan, but I don’t know how Jegal Ryun formed a connection with someone named Sama Jin Gung.

 

I was also curious about the circumstances of how a descendant of a fallen family became the deputy branch leader of the Martial Alliance’s Hubei Branch.

 

‘I’ll have to talk with him separately later.’

 

Seeing as he was someone I’d never heard of even during my time as Alliance Leader, Sama Jin Gung might be from a collateral line or a branch house.

 

‘Well, I wasn’t interested in anyone except the Grand Strategist and a few other Samas anyway.’

 

I really lived a brutally focused life.

 

‘But the real problem isn’t that guy.’

 

Moyong Bi recalled the words that Bang Hyeon from Bi Chang Moon had muttered.

 

‘That person will reign as the glorious god of the demonic path. We, as his servants and seeds, will guide the worship of all people.’

 

‘The sacred fire of holy blood will not be extinguished, and before the coming end times, the sixth flame will howl.’

 

Sacred Blood, and Sacred Fire.

 

‘Could they really be remnants of those bastards?’

 

He had thought there would be remnants. They had won the war, but that didn’t mean they had caught and eliminated every demon from Sacred Blood Palace.

 

However, it was certain that they had burned down Sacred Blood Palace’s main headquarters and eliminated all the major demons without exception.

 

‘How typical.’

 

Those who had drunk the bitter cup of defeat enduring for years, decades with the spirit of lying on brushwood and tasting gall, then rising again to shake the world.

 

It was so typical that he didn’t even want to use the word predictable.

 

‘But it’s frightening precisely because such predictable schemes are possible.’

 

Falling and rising again, falling once more and rising yet again.

 

Truly a vitality no less than cockroaches. In that aspect, they were far more threatening than the idiots of the Orthodox Martial World.

 

‘God of the Demonic Path? Who is that? Could they mean Neung Hyeong?’

 

That must be it.

 

Probably so.

 

‘…Damn it.’

 

He couldn’t concentrate.

 

His thoughts chased each other in circles before cooling off on their own. When he tried to pull out the cooled thoughts to analyze them again, he had already forgotten what he had analyzed.

 

Moyong Bi admitted it.

 

That he was somewhat tired.

 

A demon had appeared, one who even mentioned Sacred Blood. Then this was no ordinary matter. It might lead to another bloody war like in the past.

 

But Moyong Bi couldn’t focus on the demon.

 

More precisely, his family concerned him far more than some ‘mere’ demon.

 

The demon’s appearance and the Great Demon War were distant matters, but his family’s affairs were immediate reality right before his eyes.

 

Many things had happened during the sparring tournament, and now that he had dealt with two Wudang Sect elders, fatigue was finally hitting him.

 

‘I’ve barely slept.’

 

Today, at least, he needed to sleep soundly.

 

It was when Moyong Bi entered Juru’s rear garden through the forest.

 

“…”

 

Moyong Bi saw a person standing in front of his residence, under the short eaves.

 

The person leaning against the wall with her head deeply bowed was Moyong Su Hyang.

 

“Su Hyang, what are you doing there?”

 

Moyong Su Hyang raised her head.

 

Moyong Bi unconsciously flinched. Moyong Su Hyang’s eyes were different from usual.

 

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

 

Whoooosh.

 

The rain grew a bit heavier.

 

Moyong Su Hyang remained silent.

 

Watching her, Moyong Bi let out a bitter smile.

 

“Don’t stay out here in the cold, go inside and sleep. Ah, by the way, where’s Elder Sister?”

 

“At her residence.”

 

Her voice carrying the short answer trembled strangely.

 

Moyong Bi frowned.

 

“Are you sick somewhere? Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”

 

“What am I doing?”

 

“Could it be because you drank too much?”

 

“…”

 

“Give me your hand. Let me check your pulse. You shouldn’t be careless just because you learned a good internal energy cultivation method. Alcohol poisoning is more frightening than you think…”

 

“Did you eat?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Food.”

 

“I’m fine. I’m not hungry.”

 

“You devour five or six bowls per meal, how can you not be hungry?”

 

“Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit hungry.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang came out from under the eaves and suddenly grabbed Moyong Bi’s hand.

 

Moyong Bi looked at her with bewildered eyes.

 

“I’ll buy you food. Let’s go eat.”

 

“You? Food? You’re buying for Elder Brother?”

 

“…”

 

“…Oh ho!”

 

A mischievous look came over Moyong Bi’s face.

 

“You want something from me, don’t you?”

 

The accumulated fatigue seemed to clump together like fluffy clouds and fly away upon seeing his great grand nephew’s face. Family was definitely good.

 

“Did Elder Sister scold you for drinking too much? Well, I can’t help it. I’ll properly defend you to Elder Sister, saying that with Su Hyang’s constitution, it’s fine to drink two bottles every day…”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang pulled Moyong Bi along as she walked.

 

Only then did the mischievous look disappear from Moyong Bi’s face.

 

The two left Juru and walked down the street.

 

Though it was raining, the streets were still bustling with people. Colorful lanterns that dispelled the darkness painted brilliant hues on the faces of men and women, young and old.

 

Moyong Su Hyang walked silently.

 

Moyong Bi also quietly followed her.

 

As they walked without words, Moyong Su Hyang didn’t let go of his hand. Rather, she gripped it tightly as if she would never let go.

 

Even after walking for more than an hour, then two hours, Moyong Su Hyang didn’t stop.

 

Only at the end of the street did Moyong Su Hyang turn back toward Juru.

 

Moyong Bi, who had been silently following her lead, spoke up.

 

“Su Hyang.”

 

“…”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“You’re not fine.”

 

He wanted to joke and ask her to feed him quickly, but those words wouldn’t come out.

 

Moyong Bi’s eyes wavered as he gazed at her face.

 

Tears flowed from Moyong Su Hyang’s eyes.

 

Even though they were walking in the rain, her tears were clearly different from the rainwater.

 

“Hey, I said I’m fine. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang stopped walking.

 

“Over there.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“That shop gives generous portions of vegetables and meat…”

 

Moyong Su Hyang couldn’t continue her words and sat down, crying loudly.

 

Moyong Bi, who had been quietly looking down at her, crouched down and patted her back.

 

Passersby glanced at the two occasionally, but neither of them cared at all.

 

Half an hour later, the winter rain stopped.

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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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