Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 144

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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 144. Who Is the Slave (4)

“Whew.”

The white steam that came out with his sigh seemed to represent his troubled mind.

Jegal Ryun, who had been looking up at the sky with a disturbed expression, opened his mouth.

“If you’ve come, you should say so. Why are you just standing there quietly?”

“Ah, I’ve been caught.”

“You weren’t hiding your presence very well for that?”

Jegal Lin stood next to Jegal Ryun.

“Are you reading the heavens?”

“You know, don’t you? That this uncle doesn’t have such ability.”

“That can’t be. Father said that Uncle is proficient in everything of the Main Family House. It’s just that you don’t reveal it yourself.”

“Your father seems to be thinking of saving his uncle’s face.”

“I truly believe Father’s words.”

Those words were half right and half wrong.

He had grown up being told he was ordinary compared to his brothers.

He didn’t know how much endless effort he had put in to not fall behind them. He didn’t know how much he had suffered, even cutting down on sleep to stuff knowledge into his head.

Because of that, he had wasted his natural martial talent, but Jegal Ryun didn’t mind.

He wanted to be recognized for his mind, not martial arts. Since it was a family that taught that wisdom, not strength, was most important in the Jianghu martial world, he was even more desperate for knowledge.

Ten years ago, he realized something.

Having a lot in your head doesn’t make you wise.

True wisdom lies in the eye that penetrates the essence. When you see the insight of old men who can’t read a single line, you realize that wisdom doesn’t lie simply in knowledge alone.

‘So have I become wise now?’

He couldn’t tell.

He had heard that to become wise, one must be free of prejudice and broaden one’s mind.

But this time he realized that he had not yet become wise.

He was just a stubborn middle-aged man who happened to know a little more.

“Lin.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“The foundation of wisdom lies in knowledge. But having a lot of knowledge doesn’t make you wise.”

“…”

“You must strive to understand the world as much as you read books. This uncle still can’t do that.”

“To understand the world, you have to look at people, right?”

Jegal Ryun smiled.

Even he, who was known for his blunt personality, sometimes couldn’t help but smile in front of his lovely niece.

“That’s right, you have to look at people.”

“Who are you looking at lately, Uncle?”

Who am I looking at now?

The answer came quickly.

“I’m looking at Moyong Bi.”

“What an amazing coincidence. I am too.”

“It seemed like you were looking at someone else?”

Jegal Lin blushed at her uncle’s joke.

“I’m not.”

“Haha.”

“Moyong Sohyeop is really an amazing person, isn’t he?”

“Are you changing the subject because you’re embarrassed?”

“I said I’m not.”

Jegal Ryun sighed.

“Looking at Moyong Bi, that guy, I think that wisdom doesn’t necessarily deepen with age.”

“I thought he was an amazing person… but was he that much?”

“You’re much smarter than this uncle. But if you couldn’t see that guy as amazing, it means something is blocking your eyes.”

Jegal Lin’s eyes wavered.

But only for a moment.

“At least it’s not because of this young age.”

“That’s right.”

“His martial arts are amazing and his decisiveness seems good too. Honestly, if I were in that position, I could never have done that.”

“That’s right.”

“But I don’t think he’s wiser than you, Uncle.”

“Isn’t it true that you can’t tell the extraordinariness of real ones just by looking at the surface?”

“Is he really that much?”

“Perhaps the reason you don’t think as highly of Moyong Bi as I do is because of his age. Nineteen years old, an age when it’s still difficult to know the ways of the world.”

He was even a year younger than Jegal Lin.

You could say he was fully grown, but it was also an age when he couldn’t help but be immature.

“Sama Bu Dan Ju is not an ordinary person.”

“I know.”

“He’s said to have capabilities as outstanding as the ancestors of the Sima clan who once served as Grand Strategist of the Martial Alliance. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but it’s a fact that he has greater insight than anyone I’ve seen.”

“…”

“Moyong Bi manipulated such a Sama Bu Dan Ju.”

“What?!”

“The Alliance Leader who came back from meeting that guy said just one thing to this uncle.”

“What did he say?”

“I lost.”

“…!”

“That’s what Sama Bu Dan Ju said to me after finishing his conversation with a young man who hadn’t even reached adulthood yet. And he said it to me, a person of the Jegal Clan.”

Jegal Lin unconsciously swallowed.

She had heard how strong the pride of the Sima clan was. Bluntly speaking, they were people who wouldn’t even pretend to listen even if the most powerful person in the world called them, unless it was someone worth serving.

Sama Jin Gung was also a person who inherited Sima blood. Perhaps the Sama Se Ga had the greatest pride of all.

Such a man had admitted defeat.

“What Moyong Bi did wasn’t something just anyone could do. It looks ruthless and thoughtless at first glance, but moment by moment, he selected and placed the most reliable people to lead the situation favorably.”

“You mean it wasn’t good improvisation, but he calculated it in advance?”

“He couldn’t have planned from the beginning to use me, someone he’d never even had a conversation with.”

“Then…”

“That’s why his quick wit shines. Could you be confident about whether someone would move for me or not after just having a few conversations?”

“…I couldn’t.”

“Moyong Bi accomplished that.”

Jegal Lin felt goosebumps rising.

Now that she heard it like this, she could see what terrifying insight Moyong Bi possessed.

At first, she thought he might just be lucky, but that wasn’t it. He must have had confidence in his abilities, but as Uncle said, he accurately read the situation unfolding moment by moment and used people who could create favorable circumstances for him to lead the battlefield.

The pinnacle of the art of using people. It seemed like he wasn’t doing anything, but he was doing all the groundwork behind the scenes.

“How is that possible?”

“Whether it’s experience, instinct, or both, I don’t know. What’s important is that his insight is as amazing as No Gang Ho’s.”

Jegal Ryun let out a bitter smile.

“I want to steal the eyes of a young man not even half my age. How did he live to gain such ability at that age? His discernment is too sharp to say he was born with it.”

It was the first time Jegal Lin had heard her blunt uncle praise someone like this, or even say he wanted to be like them.

Somehow her pride was hurt, but she was also excited.

If what Uncle sees could also be seen by my eyes, how much more could I grow?

“If that were also displayed in fighting, it would be truly frightening.”

“Fighting?”

“Even if it’s not necessarily sword fighting… you know, that thing. This guy can be spared, this guy must be taken down now or there’ll be big trouble.”

Jegal Ryun nodded his head.

“The insight that Moyong Bi possesses is something that manifests in any kind of conflict. As long as he doesn’t lose himself, he’ll always be able to choose the best option.”

Jegal Lin looked up at the sky.

“Moyong Sohyeop, will he clash with the Main Family in the future?”

“Uncle doesn’t have the eyes to read that far.”

“If such a thing were to happen, it would be overwhelming.”

“Would there be anything to feel overwhelmed about? The Main Family has many wise people.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

Still.

‘Still, I hope there won’t be any conflict between the Main Family and Moyong Sohyeop.’

Because I’ve grown somewhat attached to the Moyong family members.

“The wind is cold. Tomorrow is the finals, right?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we go inside? I’ll serve you a cup of tea.”

“Hehe, let’s do that.”

* * *

“Ugh!”

The first thought that came to mind as soon as I regained consciousness.

‘Why does my head hurt so much?’

From the back of my head to the side, it was throbbing beyond description.

And immediately the second thought that came.

‘I’m not dead?’

When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

And.

“Huh!”

I saw a young girl with a pretty face looking down at me with wide-awake eyes.

Startled, Neung Hyeong instinctively tried to twist his body.

No, he tried to, but his body wouldn’t obey.

‘Paralysis Points?!’

They had struck them quite viciously.

The entire area below his neck had no sensation. This was the first time his Paralysis Points had been sealed so ruthlessly.

At least fortunately, his Mute Acupoint hadn’t been struck.

“You’re awake?”

“…Who are you?”

“What would you do knowing that?”

“What?”

The girl’s face immediately became sullen.

“My Elder Brother says you’re the most evil person in the world.”

“What, what?”

“Somehow your manner of speech from our first meeting is just not right.”

What is this cunning thing?

“You insolent fool! How dare you spout such nonsense before My Lord?!”

“I heard that despite being evil, you suffer from quite severe delusions. That you live mistaking yourself for some No Gang Ho who once had influence in the past?”

“…?”

“You still seem young, so it’s quite pitiful.”

It seemed I had heard some words that were hard to accept. Neung Hyeong was dumbfounded.

And he was also angry.

‘This young thing has quite the mouth on her.’

For some reason, Moyong Cheon came to mind.

Though their manner of speech was different, should I call it temperament? That aspect felt quite similar.

That temperament of turning people inside out isn’t something just anyone can have.

Neung Hyeong decided to stay calm for now.

“Where is the bastard who made me like this?”

“Our Elder Brother?”

“…Elder Brother?”

“Elder Brother came carrying you on his back.”

“What’s your brother’s name?”

“Didn’t Elder Brother tell you?”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

“Then I won’t tell you either.”

“Gah!”

“Anyway, I should go tell him you’re awake.”

“W-wait! First untie my Paralysis Points before you go!”

“I don’t know Pressure Point Technique.”

“…?!”

“Just endure it.”

With that, the girl left the room.

Neung Hyeong found himself gasping for breath without realizing it. He hadn’t been running around anywhere, but his anger was bursting and he couldn’t control his breathing.

But that was only momentary.

‘But why didn’t that bastard kill me?’

He definitely had the intent to kill at the end.

Even in this pathetic state, he could distinguish between real and fake killing intent well enough.

‘Did he change his mind at the last moment?’

That was the only way to think about it.

‘But why?’

Don’t tell me he pitied me?

‘…That demon-like bastard wouldn’t do that.’

He was vicious enough to slap a woman holding a grudge.

At least a woman with many grievances would only sprinkle frost in May, but that bastard was the type who could summon an ice storm even in a midday desert.

That’s how Neung Hyeong saw Moyong Cheon.

‘Does he want something? If so, wouldn’t he have asked already? Or not? Is it just a simple change of heart?’

What on earth is the reason?

In his anxiety, Neung Hyeong’s eyeballs rolled around for quite a while.

Creak.

The door opened and cold air rushed in.

Neung Hyeong’s eyeballs, which had been rolling faster than marbles, stopped dead.

“You’ve come to your senses.”

“…You bastard.”

No matter how much he rolled his eyes, he couldn’t see the bastard’s figure. His neck was also starting to stiffen.

Neung Hyeong spoke as if spitting.

“Why did you spare my life?”

“It’s my decision.”

“You damn bastard! I am Neung Hyeong! I’m not in a position to receive pity from you…!”

“Such a guy shedding tears just from seeing a bit of sunlight?”

“You, you bastard.”

“Like a senile old man. I was so embarrassed, ugh.”

“Argh!”

His face burned with heat.

Tears came to my eyes without realizing it at the thought, ‘At least I get to see the sun once before I die.’

That should have been the end.

There should have been no need to come back to life and be soaked in shame while reminiscing about that moment.

Neung Hyeong shouted with a reddened face.

“You bastard! Kill me right now!”

“What do you want to see this time? The moon’s up, should I take you there?”

“You crazy bastard! Don’t humiliate My Lord!”

“You’re being humiliated.”

It felt like the top of my head would collapse from high blood pressure.

While Neung Hyeong was losing his mind in fury that made even his eyes roll around.

“Come to think of it, there’s one thing you didn’t tell me.”

“What!!”

“You said there are still Palace Disciples serving you, right?”

“…”

“Where are those bastards?”

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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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