Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 130
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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 130. Winter Rain (5)
The next morning.
Since winter rain had fallen during the night, the day was particularly cold. Thin ice had formed here and there on the duel stage.
But today too, the enthusiasm in the spectator seats was tremendous.
As if saying that cold weather was nothing more than an excuse to wear extra layers, watching the spectators armed with fur coats, one could picture a group of large and small bears wrapped in thick hides.
“Good grief.”
Half an hour before the sparring match began.
Moyong Bi, standing in the entrance passage to the duel stage, frowned and glared at Jegal Chung Ho.
“I told you not to tell them.”
Jegal Chung Ho fidgeted and made excuses.
“If I hadn’t told them, they really looked ready to bury me alive! It’s because Moyong Sohyeop wasn’t there at the time. Aside from that uncle of yours, it’s been a while since I was so scared I nearly wet myself. When I first said I wouldn’t tell them, there was killing intent in both their eyes, killing intent…”
“…”
“Lin, help me out here. You saw it too, didn’t you?”
Jegal Lin cheerfully put on an innocent act and said.
“I saw it.”
“See? There you have it.”
“I saw you excitedly telling them as if you’d been waiting for this moment.”
“Argh! Why are you lying?!”
“I’m not lying though? Even while saying you had no choice, you were all giddy and chattering away, then when their expressions turned sour, you awkwardly fled like you were running away.”
“…”
“Now, tell me. Who was lying?”
Jegal Chung Ho looked at Moyong Bi with a turtle-like expression.
Moyong Bi, who had been glaring at him with fierce eyes, let out a deep sigh.
“Fine. Since you’ve already told them, there’s nothing to be done.”
“Hehe, right?”
“I’m carrying a spear today.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t show me your teeth.”
“Yes sir.”
Seeing his expression made by forcefully pressing his upper and lower lips together into a straight line, there was really nothing more to complain about.
Jegal Lin quietly began to defend him.
“While this glutton brother of mine was indeed giddy, it’s also true that those two had tremendous presence.”
“That must have been the case.”
“Honestly, I was thinking of telling them first myself. It’s a bit awkward when outsiders know everything but the siblings don’t know the situation.”
“…”
“Of course, well… since it’s another family’s business, I thought I shouldn’t meddle unnecessarily, so I kept my mouth shut.”
Seeing her mumbling excuses, it seemed she felt quite sorry despite stepping up for her brother.
Moyong Bi shook his head.
“Yes, you’re right.”
He had wanted to find the right time to talk about Kang Won Gong, aiming for a period when it could be passed over emotionally without much fuss.
Looking back, he thought he had been somewhat selfish. As Jegal Lin said, how must those two have felt when outsiders knew circumstances that the actual family didn’t know?
‘Ugh, damn it. Still, I can’t stand that kind of atmosphere.’
Looking at the Jegal siblings with their fish-like expressions, he thought he should absolutely keep secrets in the future, but frankly, if it hadn’t been for these people, handling the matter wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Annoyance was annoyance, but gratitude was gratitude.
“By the way, where did that Guan fellow go?”
“He probably went to find a nearby branch or intelligence organization.”
“Why?”
“He needs to contact Anhui.”
“Suddenly? Why?”
“Are you stupid? A demon appeared.”
Jegal Chung Ho’s face instantly hardened.
“It’s a matter that needs to be formally reported to the Martial Alliance. Before that, those who know should also pass the information to their respective families and sects.”
“I see.”
“Rather, I’m wondering where So So went. I saw her briefly this morning and then she disappeared.”
“Ah, So So is…”
Jegal Chung Ho glanced at Moyong Bi again.
“Ahem! It seems she went to comfort Su Hyang.”
Jegal Lin also quietly averted her gaze.
“So So is kind.”
“That’s right. She’s different from us.”
“Don’t lump me in with you.”
“Okay.”
Then, Moyong Bi asked bluntly.
“Let me ask one more thing.”
“Ask anything.”
“Did you also report everything to the Chief Administrator?”
Jegal Chung Ho’s face now turned ashen. Jegal Lin sneakily hid behind Jegal Chung Ho, and with their similar complexions, she seemed to blend in like camouflage.
Moyong Bi, who had been quietly observing the Jegal siblings, chuckled.
“Buy me a drink later.”
Jegal Chung Ho’s face immediately brightened.
“Shall I? By any chance, what kind of alcohol does our Moyong Sohyeop like? I’ll buy you drinks until my stomach bursts.”
“Five Grain Liquor.”
“Five Grain Liquor is good! Five Grain… but you mean Sichuan Five Grain Liquor?”
“Was there another Five Grain Liquor?”
“Isn’t it quite expensive to drink in Hubei?”
“It’s expensive even when drinking it in Sichuan.”
“…”
“If you think it’s too precious, don’t buy it.”
Jegal Chung Ho’s face became tearful.
“I’ll buy it for you. I have to buy it.”
Then, the judge’s voice was heard.
“Shortly, we will proceed with the second round, first match! Both contestants, please make your final checks of your weapons and clothing!”
Moyong Bi spun his long spear with an nonchalant expression.
With just finger and wrist movements, the rotating long spear moved from his back to the left side, then forward, and then to the right. He seemed to handle it even more freely than a sword.
Jegal Chung Ho asked carefully.
“By the way, Moyong Sohyeop, have you learned spear techniques?”
“You saw me use staff techniques, didn’t you?”
“Staff techniques and spear techniques are somewhat different, aren’t they?”
“They’re different, but they share the same essence. The two have an inseparable relationship.”
“Is that so?”
“There’s a saying that if you properly master spear and staff techniques, you become skilled with all hundred weapons. The Moyong clan has long learned various martial arts based on spear and staff techniques since ancient times.”
The Jegal siblings looked at each other.
Ancient times would include the past from twenty to fifty years ago.
“Prepared contestants, please come up on stage!”
Moyong Bi went up while loosening his shoulders.
Jegal Chung Ho shouted.
“Win and come back!”
“Of course.”
After Moyong Bi went up, Jegal Chung Ho sighed heavily.
“Damn, I feel like my lifespan has been shortened by several months. Phew, what kind of dagger did someone stick in Moyong Sohyeop’s eyes? I don’t know why she looks so murderous.”
Jegal Lin patted Jegal Chung Ho’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
His face stiffened again as he turned his head.
There, Moyong Su Jeong and Moyong Su Hyang, Seok Woong and Kang Geun Cheong, and Namgung So So were walking over.
Jegal Chung Ho pressed himself against the wall like a ghost without substance.
Jegal Lin, who had been glaring at her elder brother as if she wanted to kill him, fixed her expression and approached them.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes.”
“Moyong Sohyeop just went up.”
“We saw.”
“…I see.”
It was a calm answer, but strangely made her feel intimidated.
In the end, Jegal Lin also decided to become a coward. Still, it was better to be a substantial fool than a speechless ghost.
Moyong Su Jeong, who had been watching Moyong Bi’s back with trembling eyes, soon let out a sigh.
‘Bi Ah.’
They said his body had become that way from learning the Moyong Family’s martial arts.
But in reality, it was different. He had learned those dangerous techniques and made himself a test subject to send her to Myeongjin Hall.
She truly didn’t know how heartbroken she was when she heard those words.
‘…Still, I won’t say I’m sorry to you.’
Because she understood her younger brother’s heart in deliberately trying to hide that fact.
Even thinking about it now made her want to cry, but Moyong Su Jeong tried hard to control her emotions.
This regret and gratitude was a burden she had to carry for life. But her younger brother didn’t want that. Rather, if she became troubled by being caught up in those feelings, he would be sorry and not know what to do.
The reason she didn’t go to see her younger brother last night was also there.
To control her own heart and reflect on her younger brother’s feelings.
Still, she couldn’t hold back the tears that came and cried so much with Seok Woong.
Like the silent Moyong Su Jeong, Seok Woong was also extremely disturbed.
‘Why didn’t you tell us, Young Master?’
He knew why he hadn’t told them.
Still, he wished he had been told. Not out of resentment, but because he felt so sorry.
‘While receiving everyone’s condemning gazes, just how upset and hurt were you?’
Seok Woong’s eyes reddened again.
He had stayed up all night comforting the Family Head. He thought he had controlled his emotions well, but seeing the Young Master’s back on the duel stage made his heart feel like it was being torn apart.
Kang Geun Cheong, who was watching Moyong Su Jeong and Seok Woong, inwardly sighed.
‘It can’t help but be complicated.’
If it were me, could I have done what Moyong Bi did?
It seemed like he might have, but also seemed like he couldn’t have endured it.
One thing was certain: at fourteen years old, he absolutely couldn’t have done it.
‘How much must he love his family to have carried all that difficult burden?’
Kang Geun Cheong also followed everyone’s gaze toward Moyong Bi.
His back, with the long spear boldly slung over his shoulder, looked as solid as an iron tower.
‘I respect you, Moyong Sohyeop.’
Regardless of age, regardless of status, he was a man worthy of respect. Kang Geun Cheong truly thought so.
“…Ahem.”
Namgung So So, who had been glancing at people’s faces, turned her gaze to Moyong Su Hyang.
‘I, I don’t know.’
Moyong Su Hyang’s expression was hard to interpret.
It seemed similar to usual, but also seemed incredibly sunken.
Namgung So So secretly hit her own head with her fist.
‘Think of it! Think of it! There must be words that can help!’
Then, Moyong Su Hyang opened her mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“…?”
“Ah! This? My head suddenly got itchy.”
“You hit yourself when it’s itchy?”
“…Sometimes?”
Moyong Su Hyang, who had been looking at her friend as if it was absurd, shook her head vigorously.
Namgung So So’s face brightened. Somehow, judging by her reaction, she seemed no different from the usual Su Hyang.
“By the way, Su Hyang…”
“Ahem!!”
Everyone was startled and looked at Moyong Su Hyang because of her sudden tremendous cough to clear her throat.
Moyong Su Hyang widened her eyes and shouted.
“Elder Brother, win!!”
Her voice was so loud that even some of the audience turned their gazes to Moyong Su Hyang.
Moyong Bi glanced back.
Moyong Su Hyang waved her fist and said.
“If you don’t win, no food!”
Moyong Bi smiled and moved his lips.
– Stop worrying about useless things and go prepare the food in advance. I’m planning to be very hungry today.
Moyong Su Hyang smiled.
Though her lips trembled slightly, she looked brighter and stronger than any expression she had shown recently.
“How many servings is he planning to eat to act like that?”
Moyong Su Jeong, who had been looking at her younger sister in surprise, suddenly looked at Seok Woong.
Seok Woong seemed to have similar thoughts. Within his surprised expression, there was a sign that he had resolved something.
Moyong Su Jeong cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted.
“Let’s have a drink together today, Elder Sister and you!”
“Young Master! You must win and return!”
The suddenly explosive cheering from the Moyong Family people made the mouths of the Jegal siblings, who had become ghosts and cowards, open automatically.
“Win, Moyong Sohyeop! But isn’t five-grain liquor a bit expensive! It’s not that I don’t want to buy it!”
“Since it’s because you don’t want to buy it, just win first and then we’ll see!”
It was enthusiastic support like wildfire.
Suddenly, cheers came flying in a lump. Moyong Bi coughed awkwardly from embarrassment.
Then, Bang Hyo, standing opposite him, spoke.
“You brought a spear.”
Even amid the surroundings full of cheers, Bang Hyo’s voice was clearly heard.
It wasn’t because his hearing was good. Bang Hyo had infused internal energy into his voice to deliver it.
Though not sound transmission, it was impressive enough internal energy manipulation.
“I’m sorry, but it will be difficult to win with a spear.”
A voice that somehow felt jealous and competitive.
Moyong Bi tilted his head and sent a sound transmission.
– Where does such confidence come from? Are you perhaps trusting in demonic spear techniques?
Bang Hyo’s face instantly turned pale.
It was shocking enough that his opponent could use sound transmission, but he was more greatly surprised by the mention of demonic spear techniques.
“Wh, what nonsense!”
– Do you think you’re the only one who knows your sect’s secrets? Why do you think we’ve left you alone all this time?
Now Bang Hyo’s face had turned pale beyond description, becoming completely white.
Moyong Bi grinned wickedly as he pointed his spear at him.
“You must have trained with considerable effort, so I’ll receive it calmly. Let’s see just how impressive the skill you’ve built by sucking human blood really is.”
Wooooong.
The spear blade infused with Infinite True Qi let out an intense cry.
The starting stance of the Martial Alliance Leader’s spear technique, said to be capable of slaying even dragons, naturally unfolded.
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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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