Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 152

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 152. The Bloody Storm Beyond Change (2)

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Neung Hyeong, struck on the back of his head, glared behind him with murderous intent.

Moyong Bi spoke calmly.

“What are you, anyway?”

“Then what should I call you, you crazy bastard!”

“Show respect.”

Neung Hyeong burst into hollow laughter.

“Respect? Me? To that old man?!”

“You’re an old man too, aren’t you?”

“You!”

Moyong Bi waved his hands dismissively at the people watching.

“He’s a bit crazy, so don’t be too surprised, everyone. He can be annoying sometimes, but just ignore him. If he gets on your nerves, feel free to hit him.”

Neung Hyeong’s face contorted into an indescribably grotesque expression.

“Come on, let’s go inside. Let’s have some home-cooked food for once.”

With that, everyone entered the Moyong Family estate. Meanwhile, Neung Hyeong was dragged along with Moyong Bi gripping his neck, his voice filled with terrifying rage as he demanded to be released.

Guo Lao’s face hardened grimly as he closed the main gate.

“Senior…”

Dark Shadow swallowed nervously.

“What do you think that person’s identity is?”

He had felt Neung Hyeong’s presence more keenly than anyone else.

Guo Lao was no different. In fact, he had read far more into it than Dark Shadow.

‘He’s an incredible person.’

Having lived by escort and assassination work, both were far more sensitive than ordinary Murim Warriors. Among them, Guo Lao was a master who had made his name as a legendary Escort Warrior.

‘He’s not just extraordinary. He’s excessively dangerous.’

The mark of killing intent was etched in his eyes.

Even a murderer who kills as casually as eating wouldn’t have eyes that terrifying. It wasn’t simply someone who had killed many people, but the true majesty of a real powerhouse who had controlled the life and death of thousands with a single gesture.

Just like Immortal Master Yi.

‘Just who could he be?!’

At least he could suppress his anxiety since Immortal Master Yi—no, the Young Master—said it was fine, but if not for that, he would have drawn his sword immediately.

‘I want to hear about what’s been happening.’

That evening.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Pant, pant.”

The Squad Members sprawled out uniformly looked like well-wrung laundry.

“Good.”

Satisfaction appeared on Moyong Bi’s face.

“You haven’t been slack in your training. This is much better than I expected?”

Though they didn’t have the strength to move a finger, the Squad Members could smile at Moyong Bi’s praise.

“But you still haven’t crossed over to the next stage.”

Guo Lao, listening from the side, knew what stage Moyong Bi was referring to.

‘He means the level of physical body.’

Except for Team Leader Jin Gwang and senior Squad Member Gwan Hyeon, all the remaining Squad Members possessed the lowest level of talent.

At least they had the basics down since they had trained their stamina for many years. Moreover, with the addition of flexibility training, their bodies were rapidly reaching completion regardless of their innate talent.

They were only a few steps away from the level where they could truly accept martial arts.

“Team Leader Jin.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“For the next month, train the Squad Members in stamina as you’ve been doing. Of course, you must also continue with the swimming training and evasion techniques.”

“Understood.”

“However, don’t make them do wooden sword sparring at night. Make sure all sparring ends before sunset.”

“May I ask the reason?”

It wasn’t out of distrust, but because he genuinely wanted to know the reason.

“The Squad Members haven’t yet reached the level where they can calm their nerves with internal energy. Even wooden sword sparring is still sparring. Just because the sparring ends doesn’t mean their heightened nerves will immediately calm down.”

“Ah!”

“Sleep is the best rest. Avoid training after dinner, but energy cultivation is essential. After energy cultivation, make sure they get at least four hours of sleep each day.”

If he had been pushing them mercilessly until now, from now on he would focus thoroughly on recovery.

“I’ll leave it to you then.”

“Understood.”

Neung Hyeong followed Moyong Bi as he dismissed the Fire Sword Group.

“I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier.”

“…”

“You said they’re better than expected? Just how rock-bottom did you think they were that this level is considered good?”

“They were truly rock-bottom. There wasn’t a single one with talent.”

“Ha! So only those inferior to half-wits remained in the great Moyong Family Estate?”

“These are the guys who stayed with a ruined family to the end. Don’t insult them.”

“They didn’t stay—other places just wouldn’t take them, right?”

He certainly had sharp corners.

“Whatever the case, these guys will be the future of the Main Family House.”

“Your family’s future seems too dark, doesn’t it?”

Moyong Bi turned to look at Neung Hyeong.

Neung Hyeong tensed slightly, thinking he might lash out again, but Moyong Bi said:

“What will you do?”

“Do what?”

“Will you learn martial arts again?”

Neung Hyeong, who was about to shout “of course,” suddenly hesitated.

Martial arts? Of course he had to learn them.

Whatever life he lived, he was someone who couldn’t be separated from martial arts. He couldn’t even imagine a life without martial arts.

But.

“…Damn it!”

His thoughts had been complicated all day and he couldn’t sort them out.

“What’s there to worry about? You can’t learn Demonic Arts anyway. Still, someone who was once the master of Seongheolgung wouldn’t only know Demonic Arts.”

It wasn’t wrong.

During that long war period, how many Martial Arts Books had he obtained from the orthodox Murim?

To elevate his level, he had studied countless orthodox martial arts that stood in opposition to Demonic Arts. Naturally, he hadn’t learned them, but he did have several decent martial arts memorized.

That was the problem.

“…All the decent martial arts are Divine Arts of Buddhism or Taoism.”

Though he had learned Demonic Arts, that was merely a means to gain power—he didn’t truly consider himself a demon.

But he had warred with the orthodox faction for too long, and the period of cultivating Demonic Arts had been excessively lengthy.

With his distaste for orthodox Divine Arts rooted so deeply, it wasn’t easy to suddenly learn them just because it was the only path.

“What’s the problem?”

“What?”

“Whether Buddhist or Taoist, if the level is high, it’s good—what’s the problem?”

“You call that talking sense?”

“Why? Do you really think of yourself as a descendant of the demonic path?”

Neung Hyeong knew what Moyong Bi wanted to say.

But that was that and this was this.

“Could you suddenly learn the martial arts of a force you’d been hostile toward for decades in a situation like this?”

“Of course.”

“What?”

“Of course I’ll learn it. Rather, I don’t understand why you’re agonizing over it so much.”

“Crazy bastard! You don’t know how I feel.”

“What good would it do to understand the feelings of a petty guy like you?”

“Even when I talk to you, you always…”

“What matters isn’t your personality, but the situation. You even tried to cut ties with Seongheolgung and live alone. A guy who once died and came back to life is being picky about something feeling uncomfortable?”

“…”

“What’s important here isn’t some past bad relationship, but my survival and future. Frankly speaking, how is this different from a family head who can’t even feed his own children refusing blood money?”

“…It’s a bit different, you bastard.”

“You’re responsible for the past, and you’re responsible for the future too. If you don’t want to learn it, fine, but if you’ve decided to learn it, stop with the pathetic worrying and learn it right now. It’s a waste of time.”

Neung Hyeong’s cheek twitched.

“Aren’t you even scared that I might become stronger?”

“I am scared.”

Since he admitted it so readily, there was nothing to say.

“But no one avoids sharpening a blade just because they’re afraid of knives.”

“Just declare outright that you’ll use me as a tool.”

“To me, you’re a tool, but for you, it’ll become a journey to find your life, won’t it?”

“Your words are so smooth.”

Neung Hyeong spoke in a deflated voice.

“Damn it, of all things, the highest level one has to be Milbeop Gong (Secret Dharma Art).”

“Esoteric Buddhism?”

“That’s right, you bastard.”

Esoteric Buddhism was a branch of Buddhism that arose in Tianzhu Kingdom, part of which entered the Central Plains and developed independently under the influence of various martial lineages.

Though its traces are hard to find now, three hundred years ago, esoteric Buddhist martial arts were praised as rivaling even Shaolin’s martial arts.

“Where did you get that martial art?”

“I got it while tomb raiding.”

“You did?”

“Are you crazy? Would the Palace Master personally go tomb raiding? My subordinates did it.”

“Since no one knows about it, there’d be no burden in learning it. No one would pick a fight over it either.”

Neung Hyeong’s eyes flickered as he let out a deep sigh.

“The Blood Explosion Manipulation Technique, are you going to keep maintaining it?”

“I’ll at least feed you.”

“I’m so grateful that tears are streaming down, you bastard.”

“The Blood Explosion Manipulation Technique won’t cause any problems in learning martial arts. Don’t worry.”

“It’s not the martial arts I’m worried about, it’s my life.”

“As long as you behave, I won’t take your life.”

Neung Hyeong, who had been grumbling to himself, soon asked with a serious face.

“Why aren’t you asking more?”

“About what?”

“About the Spirit Command, the Divine Physician’s seed, why your soul was used as a sacrifice for the divine descent.”

Honestly, I hadn’t planned to ask first. But since I wasn’t asking at all, it was making me anxious instead.

Moyong Bi chuckled.

“You don’t know much either, right?”

“…”

“Fine, since we’re on the topic, let me ask just one thing. Is my current condition dangerous?”

“I wish it were.”

“See, it’s not dangerous.”

“…”

“I’ll ask when I get curious later.”

There was definitely some scheme behind it.

Whatever it was, Neung Hyeong had to admit it. This nemesis’s patience was far greater than his own.

If it were me, I would have beaten him day and night for twelve hours straight to find out.

“Enough talk. Where’s my residence?”

“There’s a small room next to my residence. Stay there.”

“I’m already suffocating from crawling into this damn house, and now a small room? Right next to you too?”

“If you don’t like it, sleep outside.”

Neung Hyeong stomped the ground with his foot. He seemed irritated.

“Just wait and see, you.”

“Look all you want now.”

Neung Hyeong shuddered and walked away. He had already seen where Moyong Bi’s residence was, and even without looking, the house was so tiny that a quick look around would reveal everything.

As Neung Hyeong disappeared, Guo Lao, who had been hovering in the distance, quickly approached.

“Young Master.”

“Yeah.”

“Who exactly is that person?”

Moyong Bi sighed.

“Neung Hyeong.”

“Neung Hyeong?”

“…”

“…Don’t tell me you mean Demon Immortal Neung Hyeong?!”

“That’s right.”

Guo Lao’s face hardened frighteningly.

“Has he returned too?”

“It seems so.”

His head slowly turned toward Neung Hyeong’s direction.

Though he showed neither killing intent nor even murderous thoughts, if necessary, Guo Lao’s sword could pierce Neung Hyeong’s chest at any moment.

“Why is he here?”

“He says he didn’t expect to return either.”

Guo Lao felt confused.

Moyong Bi smiled bitterly and said.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s have a drink and catch up on old stories. I’ll tell you everything about what happened during the tournament and how I got entangled with him.”

Moyong Bi and Guo Lao drank until dawn.

After hearing the circumstances, Guo Lao wept profusely while drinking. At first, he was shocked because of Neung Hyeong, but afterward, he cried until his eyes were swollen, thinking of his young master who had suffered mortal hardships at the tender age of fourteen due to the Mu Dang Faction’s schemes.

From that day on, Guo Lao made sure to visit the Ancestral Hall once a day.

Knowing full well what his feelings must be, Moyong Bi couldn’t bring himself to tell him not to do so.

Thus, the Moyong Family, which had been stagnant due to the martial arts tournament, welcomed change once again.

Everyone trained diligently, and Moyong Su Jeong and Seok Woong thoroughly managed the business operations while gradually expanding the family’s size.

A fortunate development was that thanks to Moyong Bi’s reputation that had shaken all of Hubei in a short time, the number of merchants coming from afar increased.

The Moyong Family members could newly appreciate how tremendous the power that fame brings in Jianghu was.

Thus, a month passed by quickly.

The uncle that Sama Jin Gung had mentioned still hadn’t come.

They could have contacted him first, but Moyong Bi deliberately didn’t do so. He thought there must be circumstances on their end.

Instead, he taught the White King True Energy to all the Fire Sword Unit Members who had trained diligently for a month.

The squad members were moved by the fact that they had learned a superior Internal Energy Cultivation Method and trained even more diligently, and Moyong Su Hyang and Dark Shadow, stimulated by their enthusiasm, also trained while shedding blood and sweat.

And after another two months passed, three months had gone by since the martial arts tournament ended.

One dawn when the year had passed and the winter east wind was beginning to carry a bit of warmth.

Sama Jin Gung’s uncle, Sama Hyeon, came with news thick with the scent of blood.

“Should I call you Grand Young Master?”

“Please do.”

“Before settling in, I must first deliver some serious news.”

“Please speak.”

“As of midnight yesterday, all Hong Clan Sword Sect Disciples have been murdered.”

“…?!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————