Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 156

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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 156. The Source of Lingering Echoes (1)

The Dense Forest was vast and expansive.

As if it had never allowed entry to humans or even beasts throughout its lifetime, branches of unknown origin were roughly tangled together.

Giant trees so thick that ten adult men with outstretched arms couldn’t embrace them soared high as if reaching to the ends of the sky. Dead fallen leaves piled thickly on the tree branches draped in all directions, so even when the sun rose, the interior of the Forest was filled with deep darkness and the pungent scent of Thicket.

Jegal Chung Ho, who had been silently gazing at the Forest for a while, sighed and turned his body.

‘As expected.’

He had tried several times and tasted failure as many times as he had attempted.

Now just by looking at the entrance, he could tell whether he would succeed or fail.

‘When on earth will I be able to enter that place? Even if I do enter, there’s no guarantee I’ll return alive and well, so why am I obsessing over this place?’

The reason for his obsession was simple. This was the only thing he had to hold onto.

But Jegal Chung Ho unconsciously deceived himself.

How many Family Members and scholars lived in the Jegal Clan, a family renowned for wisdom?

When he thought that he couldn’t confide this problem to any of them, his mood was unpleasant all day long. It was better to forget such reality.

Until returning to the Main Family House, Jegal Chung Ho controlled his emotions.

It was quite far from this Forest to the Main Family House, but while concentrating on collecting his thoughts, it seemed he had arrived quickly again.

“Have you returned, Second Young Master?”

“Second Young Master.”

He silently accepted the greetings of the servants and Handmaidens with a smile and immediately entered the Inner Courtyard.

“What were you doing to come back only now?”

His Younger Brother’s blunt nagging in a sulky tone was the same as always.

Jegal Chung Ho grinned and said.

“The weather’s nice, isn’t it? I just went for a leisurely stroll.”

Jegal Lin shook her head as if finding it pathetic.

“Read a book in that time instead. Don’t you know there’s been a lot of talk behind your back lately?”

“I know, I know.”

“You know but still act like this?”

Someone might say this. There are times when you want to shout at parents and siblings who nag without knowing what’s inside your heart.

Jegal Chung Ho was different.

Though she only acted that way on the surface, he knew well how much his Younger Brother cared for him.

From childhood, his Younger Brother had been intimidated by their Elder Brother. And she was just as intimidated by Father and Mother as she was by Elder Brother.

His Younger Brother’s only refuge was himself, and she followed him well accordingly. Though she now tried not to reveal her feelings, he understood such a Younger Brother.

In Jegal Chung Ho’s eyes, Jegal Lin was still a kind and affectionate Younger Brother.

“Where is Mother?”

“…In her Room.”

“How is she today?”

“The same as always.”

“I see, I should go see Mother today.”

“Elder Brother.”

Jegal Lin, who had been hesitating unusually, spoke in a much more subdued voice.

“Right now, big Elder Brother is in Mother’s Room.”

Jegal Chung Ho grinned.

“Even better. I haven’t seen Elder Brother’s face often lately either.”

Unmistakable worry appeared on Jegal Lin’s face.

Leaving his Younger Brother behind, he headed straight to the Room where Mother was staying.

“Second Young Master?”

“I’ve come to see Mother.”

“Ah, yes. But inside…”

“I heard. Elder Brother is there?”

“That’s correct.”

“Please open it.”

The Escort Warrior personally opened the door for him.

As Jegal Chung Ho entered the Room, he saw a Man sitting with his back turned beside the Bed Chamber.

With a frame neither large nor small, his waist was straight as bamboo. Though his build wasn’t large, he exuded an atmosphere that couldn’t be treated carelessly.

“Is that you, Chung Ho?”

The blunt voice was similar to his Younger Brother’s.

But the inside was completely different. If his Younger Brother’s bluntness was a fortress wall to protect herself, Elder Brother’s bluntness was just his nature.

Cold and sharp, yet an iron wall of steel that never revealed any gaps.

Jegal Chung Ho bowed his head.

“Elder Brother.”

“Did you come to see Mother?”

“Yes.”

“How unusual.”

He couldn’t tell what meaning lay behind those words.

Jegal Chung Ho gave up the effort itself to understand Elder Brother’s heart.

“Come closer.”

Disturbance appeared on Jegal Chung Ho’s face as he silently came beside the Bed Chamber.

Mother, lying as if dead, looked even thinner than just two weeks ago.

Her complexion was pale as a corpse and her cheeks were sunken so deeply that her cheekbones were fully exposed.

‘Mother.’

The only person he could open his heart to.

Jegal Chung Ho unconsciously let out a sigh.

Then Jegal Chung Yang said.

“Don’t sigh.”

“…”

“Sit down.”

Jegal Chung Ho placed a Chair next to his Elder Brother and sat down silently.

The two brothers didn’t look at each other.

“I heard you’ve been visiting Yongjoong Mountain particularly often lately.”

“That’s correct.”

“Did you want to get some fresh air?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps it sounded like a perfunctory answer, as Jegal Chung Yang’s gaze became even more chilly.

“In that time, read even one more line of books, and if you don’t like that, at least train in Internal Energy Cultivation Method.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

“You are a blood relative of the great Jegal Clan. I cannot tolerate incompetence, but I also won’t tolerate living like a wastrel or showing such signs.”

Jegal Chung Ho smiled.

“Elder Brother.”

“Speak.”

“Instead of talking about such frustratingly stuffy family matters in front of Mother, please pray instead. That she may wake up as soon as possible.”

“Nothing can be achieved through mere prayer.”

Jegal Chung Yang rose from his seat.

“Fulfill your duties but strive to become the best. Whatever that may be.”

“There’s no meaning in just going through the motions of duty on the surface. You must put your whole heart into it.”

“If you’re swayed by emotions, you’ll live like a fool your entire life.”

“If Confucius and Laozi heard Elder Brother’s words, they’d be so astounded they’d pour out curses.”

Jegal Chung Yang’s face became even more menacing.

The Jegal Clan was a Martial World family but also a family that revered learning. For someone from such a family to mention Confucius and Laozi while pointing out faults was behavior that greatly violated propriety.

“Do you speak carelessly because we’re in front of Mother?”

“It’s because we’re in front of Mother that I’m ending it at this level.”

“….”

“Because you live only following formalities without understanding emotions, you can’t understand human nature either.”

“That’s not something a fool who lives worse than a wastrel should say.”

“At least I live like a human being.”

“It’s not living like a human, but living recklessly.”

“Unlike someone who doesn’t even try to overcome the burden of the family name and wears an iron mask because the weight is too much to bear, I live quite well.”

“….”

“If you’ve finished your business, please leave now. Mother will be uncomfortable.”

Jegal Chung Yang, who had been staring down at his younger brother, turned around.

“How could someone who has lost consciousness hear anything? Stop talking nonsense and go read your books.”

As he left the room, Jegal Chung Ho sighed once more.

‘Damn it.’

Even if Mother had lost consciousness, he didn’t want to show such behavior in front of her.

He took his mother’s hand that lay under the blanket.

Her fingers, once long and beautiful, were now full of wrinkles. His mother’s hand, with no flesh left and only bones to touch, felt so unfamiliar.

As he stroked his mother’s hand with bitterness, he frowned at a strange sensation.

‘What is this?’

He pulled back the blanket and lifted his mother’s hand.

Jegal Chung Ho’s eyes widened instantly.

Dark red spots smaller than grains of rice moved here and there across the back of his mother’s hand before disappearing smoothly, as if they feared bright light.

Looking at his mother’s hand with serious eyes, he immediately began pulse diagnosis.

‘…There’s nothing different from before?’

He performed pulse diagnosis several times, but still couldn’t detect any abnormality.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

Putting her hand down, he examined the exposed skin on his mother’s body.

Her face, neck, and even her feet.

However, the dark red spots he had seen moments before were nowhere to be seen.

‘I must have seen it wrong.’

It had already been ten days since he’d been getting less than one hour of sleep per day. There was no way he wouldn’t be fatigued.

Jegal Chung Ho rose from his seat.

“Mother, I’ll come again.”

Mother still remained silent.

With a troubled expression, he turned and left the room.

The moment the door closed.

Rustle!

Dark red spots swarmed like a pack of mice across the emaciated face of the Jegal Clan’s Grand Lady before disappearing.

* * *

From the Jegal Clan’s location on Yongjoong Mountain to Yangyang in the south was quite far.

Even using waterways followed by alternating mountain paths and main roads, it would take an ordinary person well over two weeks, and that was only if boats and carriages were prepared in advance.

The distance that would normally require a full month, the two men covered in just seven days.

“Whew.”

Moyong Bi’s face was full of refreshment as he looked down at Yangyang County from a low hill.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been here.”

Hubei was particularly familiar due to the war with Seongheolgung.

Thanks to that, he knew the fastest routes, and among them, he chose to travel through rough terrain. It was to combine lightness skills with physical training.

“Are you alright?”

“Huff, huff!”

Neung Hyeong’s face was quite pale as he gasped for breath.

During the past time, he had focused on building internal energy and improving martial arts achievements through the esoteric sect’s divine arts, but had rarely done such physical training.

Still, it was fortunate that he used his internal energy so efficiently; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made it even halfway.

“Damn bastard, you ran like crazy without thinking about the person following you.”

“Get used to it. It’s good training for you too.”

“How considerate of you, it brings tears to my eyes, you bastard.”

Neung Hyeong immediately sat in lotus position and began circulating his qi.

Moyong Bi’s expression became serious as he looked down at him.

‘He’s still an incredible guy.’

Frankly speaking, with this guy’s stamina, no matter how abundant his internal energy, there should have been a day’s gap.

Yet this guy stubbornly kept up. When he increased the pace just to test him, he somehow managed to match that speed.

‘Even with deep enlightenment, these are martial arts completely different from what he practiced his whole life, yet he already uses them so skillfully… It’s amazing.’

Even with the memories of an absolute master, there’s nothing that can be done about physical limitations. Hadn’t Moyong Bi himself experienced the same thing?

Neung Hyeong had shown abilities beyond his body’s limits for seven straight days.

‘He’s someone I can learn a lot from.’

If what he lacked was something Moyong Bi possessed, then what Moyong Bi lacked was something this guy had.

A moment later.

“Phew! Now I can live.”

Having already replenished his stamina, vibrant strength could be felt in his body as he unfolded from lotus position and stood up.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat something delicious. I’ve been eating nothing but jerky and rock-hard rice balls this whole time, my stomach is killing me.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

“Oh?”

He had expected him to say they should quickly finish their business and leave now that they’d come this far, but surprisingly he was agreeing.

“Hehe, good. It would be perfect with some alcohol too.”

The two men entered Yangyang County.

Yangyang County was large, and the people living in the city were as refined as those in Wuhan.

Moreover, with the Jegal Clan located there, murim warriors could be seen without difficulty.

Perhaps because of this? Although the two men wore somewhat worn and disheveled clothing, passersby paid them no mind. Even though Moyong Bi was carrying a spear.

“Where shall we go? Let’s just enter any place.”

“We’re going to the biggest place.”

“Oh? You have such romance in you?”

“Stop talking nonsense and follow me.”

After walking for over an hour, the two men arrived at the Golden Crane Pavilion, renowned as Yangyang County’s finest inn.

Seated at a window table on the second floor of the inn, the two men immediately ordered various dishes and alcohol. Perhaps because they clearly looked like murim warriors, even the lively shop boy was particularly respectful.

Shortly after the food arrived, Moyong Bi spoke to the shop boy.

“Where is the innkeeper?”

“Our innkeeper is in the rear garden.”

“Ask the innkeeper about the Snow Man who broke through the Three Whites.”

“Pardon?”

Though he asked back as if wondering what he meant, Neung Hyeong could see it. The shop boy’s eyes sharpened.

“Just convey that message.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Use this for your drinking money after work.”

When he slipped him a silver ingot, the shop boy grinned widely and bowed repeatedly.

After the shop boy left, Neung Hyeong asked.

“What was that?”

“Just drink your alcohol.”

“Hmm.”

How much time had passed?

The shop boy, who was moving food to the next table, dropped a small folded letter onto Moyong Bi’s lap.

Moyong Bi naturally received the letter, unfolded it, and stood up from his seat.

“I’m eating.”

As if he had some idea what was going on, Neung Hyeong took a big bite of the duck leg and spoke while chewing.

“If you don’t come quickly, I’ll eat it all up.”

“Don’t cause any trouble.”

“What a way to talk to an adult, you damn brat.”

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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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