Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 138
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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 138. The Resonance of Sacred Fire (2)
“Whew.”
A subtle sense of relief settled in his exhale.
Jin Gwang released his lotus position and stood up, seeing Jong Hweon in his sight.
“Did you stand guard?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Thank you.”
It seemed he had been training the Blunt Method Arc Form while standing guard. Despite facing the cold winter wind, his body was drenched in sweat.
“Squad Leader, you seem different somehow.”
“Hmm?”
“Your atmosphere has changed a bit.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Not your personality, but… should I call it your aura? Anyway, you’ve changed somewhat.”
Jin Gwang smiled.
Even he, who usually showed only a thorough and stern demeanor in front of his squad members, had changed quite a bit.
It was partly due to the changes in the Moyong Family, and partly due to the composure gained from learning superior martial arts.
‘You’ll be able to obtain it soon too.’
Jin Gwang didn’t think he would be the only one to learn this Internal Energy Cultivation Method called White King True Energy. When the time came, all the squad members would learn it.
Even so, the reason Young Master taught it to him first was not for talent, but for his authority as squad leader. He couldn’t be ignorant or weak compared to his squad members.
‘Thank you, Young Master.’
Jin Gwang inwardly expressed gratitude to Moyong Bi and looked up at the sky.
“Dawn is breaking.”
“Yes.”
“Did you watch yesterday’s match?”
“I did.”
“Red Wave Sword Hong Wi won?”
Jong Hweon shook his head.
“I couldn’t understand what was what. Both Mu Jeong Do and Woo Gong’s martial arts were impressive, but I could tell they were no match for Red Wave Sword at all.”
“According to rumors, Hong Wi has a very high probability of advancing to the finals.”
“Even someone with poor judgment like me can see that. He’s worthy of being counted as a championship candidate.”
“But the real championship candidate is someone else.”
Jong Hweon looked toward Moyong Bi’s residence.
“Squad Leader.”
“…?”
“Our Young Master is truly remarkable, isn’t he?”
It wasn’t pure admiration.
Jin Gwang nodded, reading the solemnity cast over Jong Hweon’s face.
“Making such a decision for his family at that young age would be difficult for anyone. Even if it was the wrong choice, Young Master’s heart was genuine.”
“I’m ashamed of my past when I mocked Young Master without knowing this.”
“Is that so.”
He seemed genuinely troubled.
In fact, it was understandable. From the perspective of someone who didn’t know the circumstances, it was impossible to like a hopeless Young Master who drank all day, squandered the family’s money, and was even servile.
“When you think about it, aren’t the Family Head and Youngest Miss also truly remarkable?”
“The blood of Moyong is real. Though they are young, the potential of those who were called great martial gods and sage rulers flows in their veins.”
“Do you know what I thought after hearing the circumstances?”
“Did you burn with a desire for revenge against the Mu Dang Faction?”
“Revenge also requires strength. From what I heard, it doesn’t seem like the entire Mu Dang Faction is rotten.”
“Then?”
“I must become stronger.”
Jong Hweon’s eyes hardened with resolve.
“We mustn’t hold back those we serve as our masters. Rather, I felt that we must protect our masters ourselves.”
Jin Gwang smiled.
“That’s a good mindset.”
Just then.
“Are you already awake?”
Seok Woong walked over from the distance.
“Are you up, Chief Administrator?”
“You’re busy from early dawn, you two.”
“Are you feeling alright?”
He had been soaked in alcohol for two consecutive days.
Seok Woong let out a bitter smile.
“It wasn’t alcohol I drank out of frustration.”
“Pardon?”
“Our Young Master drank so much alcohol he didn’t even want to drink, didn’t he? I wanted to understand even a little of how painful it must have been, so I tried drinking once.”
One could say it was foolish, but Seok Woong was able to reflect on himself through it.
“It was truly a terrible thing to do. If even an old man like me felt this way, how much worse must it have been for our Young Master.”
Jin Gwang shook his head.
“You’re wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Even if he was young, where would the blood of Moyong go? Young Master’s body and your aged body, Chief Administrator, are different from the roots.”
“Hahaha!”
Seok Woong burst into hearty laughter at Jin Gwang’s uncharacteristic joke.
“Right, Team Leader Jin is correct. Still, it must have been painful for him.”
“Of course it would have been.”
“After vomiting everything at dawn, my stomach was churning but my mind became clear. Alcohol really shouldn’t be consumed carelessly.”
“Light drinking should be fine.”
Then, the residence door opened and Moyong Su Jeong appeared.
The three men bowed their heads.
“We greet the Family Head.”
“You all got up early.”
The dawn air was colder than the night air. White breath puffed out from all four people’s mouths.
“Chief Administrator, is your stomach alright?”
Seok Woong scratched his head embarrassedly, showing his human side.
“Honestly, it’s not alright.”
“Will you drink today too?”
“If Young Master wins.”
“Then you’ll definitely be drinking.”
Even though the opponent was the second son of the Namgung Clan, called the Sword King Family, Moyong Su Jeong was confident in Moyong Bi’s victory.
Seok Woong grinned.
“If he defeats a member of the renowned Namgung Clan, it would be fine to drink until I’m completely wasted.”
“I’m thinking of having a drink today too.”
“Haha, sounds good.”
Moyong Su Jeong turned her head.
“What about Bi Ah…?”
“She seems to still be sleeping.”
“That can’t be.”
“Pardon?”
“Last night she woke up and was jumping around saying she needed to train since she wasted an entire day.”
Jin Gwang and Jong Hweon were taken aback.
“That night?”
“Su Hyang probably joined in too. I would have liked to participate as well, but they said we should do physical training in earnest after the tournament ends.”
As soon as the words ended, panting sounds could be heard from beyond the rear garden forest.
“Phew, mountain running is particularly tough.”
“It’s because you couldn’t sleep.”
“Running without internal energy does seem to be quite effective.”
“You must reach the level of being called a first-rate master even without internal energy to become a true master.”
“Is that possible?”
“If it’s our Su Hyang, it’s possible.”
“Ugh…”
Two people emerged, pushing through the thicket.
The faces of the two, drenched in sweat, looked quite refreshed.
“Huh? What are you all doing there?”
Moyong Su Jeong said with a bright smile.
“Everyone was waiting to eat with you two.”
* * *
After eating and even finishing his bath, Moyong Bi took a spear and headed out to the street.
About half a hour remained until the sparring match.
The heat around the main hall had been intense since morning.
“Good.”
The faces of people full of anticipation overflowed with vitality.
Moyong Bi deliberately chose to walk on deserted paths.
The tournament had already reached its final stages. Interest in the participants who had achieved consecutive victories had reached its peak, and people who recognized his face approached to show their interest.
It was burdensome, but not unfamiliar. It had been the same during his days as Alliance Leader.
However, today he had something to think about.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s that bastard.’
He organized his thoughts while doing the mountain run.
The first thought that came to mind was, as expected, ‘mistake.’
It was the first time the Brain Gate Heart Technique had burst into such an intense cry. Unless it was an existence at least on the level of Neung Hyeong, it couldn’t have happened.
But thinking differently, even when he first and last saw Neung Hyeong, the Brain Gate Heart Technique hadn’t cried out this much.
Of course, there was a difference in achievement, and it was probably because he had become accustomed to meeting countless demons during the war.
It could be dismissed as a simple mistake or malfunction of the Brain Gate Heart Technique.
However.
‘That can’t be right.’
The moment the Brain Gate Heart Technique malfunctioned, madness would have surged to the top of his head. It would have been difficult to wake up again in the first place.
Setting aside other things, the Brain Gate Heart Technique couldn’t malfunction. The moment he made the perfected Brain Gate Heart Technique his own, it became one with his mind.
The secret arts that the Moyong Family Estate had tried to complete over long years were as high-level as they were dangerous.
‘Is it really possible?’
In the end, that was the most important thing.
Is it possible for the dead Neung Hyeong to return to this world again like me?
Realistically, it’s impossible.
I don’t know what kind of heavenly fortune sent me to the future twenty years later, but I couldn’t think that such a thing was easy enough to happen twice.
Recalling the conversation with Neung Hyeong the moment I lost consciousness could also be simple coincidence. That conversation was merely a clue about why I returned to this world, not Neung Hyeong’s descent.
That’s right.
It was right to think that way.
“…As expected.”
A shadow fell across Moyong Bi’s serious face.
“That bastard has returned like me.”
Thinking rationally, it’s an impossible thing, but in the first place, my waking up twenty years later was itself an impossible thing.
Such a thing that shakes the natural order can’t happen again?
Wrong. Rather, because it happened once, it wouldn’t be strange if it happened twice.
The decisive reason for being certain that Neung Hyeong had returned like him.
‘I can feel it.’
I don’t know where he is.
I don’t even know if he returned to the same bloodline like myself, or returned as someone unknown.
But I could feel that bastard’s existence. I could vividly feel the terrible thread of connection with him that couldn’t be explained simply as nemeses.
It was in the realm of instinct and intuition.
It wasn’t because my senses were exceptional, but ‘something’ that only those who had shaken the natural order could feel.
‘Does that bastard feel me too?’
That was unknowable.
But there was one thing certain.
‘It would be better to eliminate that bastard as quickly as possible.’
Neung Hyeong becomes the greatest threat on earth just for being Neung Hyeong.
It wasn’t simply a matter of likes and dislikes. That bastard was the one who turned the endlessly spread Central Plains into a sea of fire.
Moreover, even a demon who uttered the word ‘sacred blood’ had appeared.
‘Perhaps the hidden demons induced Neung Hyeong’s descent. Though I don’t know how it’s possible…’
In the evil sects and demonic paths, there’s something called soul summoning arts that deal with the souls of dead people.
Surprisingly, the origin of those soul summoning arts was the Dao lineage, and it was said to have spread to the common people as well. Very secretly, of course.
Regardless of what the origin was, it was the evil demon groups who dealt with soul summoning arts in earnest, and thanks to that, there were times when mystical arts like zombie arts and soul transfer techniques were active.
Most of them were said to have failed, but in other words, it meant there were also those who succeeded.
‘Could it be that I also returned in such a way?’
For now, it was unknowable.
Even if that were the case, from their perspective, what would they gain by reviving the Martial Alliance Leader who was their greatest enemy?
At that moment, Neung Hyeong’s voice came to mind.
‘Now I will prepare for the descent of god through you.’
Moyong Bi’s eyes wavered.
‘Prepare for the descent of god through me? How exactly?’
Could it be that my existence made Neung Hyeong’s descent possible?
But it was Neung Hyeong who said those words. In other words, Neung Hyeong didn’t even consider himself a god.
‘Damn it! Whatever it is, there’s a high possibility that bastard has appeared in this world again. That’s what’s important.’
Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.
“I need to find that bastard as quickly as possible…”
That’s when it happened.
“Who are you talking about?”
“You startled me.”
When he turned his head, Namgung Gwan was standing there.
“What brings the Tongue Young Master here?”
“Ah, I came to calm my mind a bit.”
It was a mountain path not far from the main hall, a place with few people but a well-maintained road.
Namgung Gwan let out a bitter smile.
“I came to calm my mind and ended up meeting someone who could cause an earthquake.”
Moyong Bi chuckled.
“Have you polished your sword well in these two days?”
“No matter how much I polish it, I feel it’s insufficient.”
“I see.”
“Is it the same for Moyong Sohyeop?”
“People are all the same.”
Namgung Gwan smiled. Moyong Bi’s words sounded like he was acknowledging him as an opponent, which made him feel good.
“Moyong Sohyeop. I’ll give my all in this match.”
“Of course you should.”
“I’ll win no matter what.”
“Dreams are free.”
“Hahaha!”
It seemed this kind of conversation actually put him at ease.
After laughing for a while, Namgung Gwan spoke calmly.
“If I lose.”
“If?”
“If I lose, please grant me one favor.”
“You want me to grant a favor if you lose? Shouldn’t it be if you win?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s not like you’re asking me to let you win either.”
“I believe Young Master would grant it.”
Namgung Gwan laughed heartily and turned around.
“I’ll go first. See you at the Duel Stage.”
Moyong Bi watched Namgung Gwan walking away and soon scratched his head.
“Neung Hyeong? Damn, right now One Hundred Thousand Nyang comes first.”
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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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