Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 171
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 171. Parasite (5)
Bang!
He goes all out from the very first strike.
Neung Hyeong’s Bodhi Vajra Divine Fist was one of the ten great fist techniques of Esoteric Buddhism, and the White Lotus Vajra Palm was one of the five great palm techniques of Esoteric Buddhism.
And the Heavenly Dragon Demon Subduing Technique that encompassed those martial arts was a supreme-grade martial art called the strongest in Esoteric Buddhism.
Even if the training period was short, if that person was Neung Hyeong, that reason alone was enough to warrant tension.
However, Jeogal Myeong didn’t know who his opponent was, nor did he particularly want to know.
Pa-pa-pang!
Jeogal Myeong’s palm technique that encompassed all directions was both splendid and sinister.
‘What is this?’
Neung Hyeong unconsciously frowned.
‘It’s clearly a sword form of orthodox martial arts.’
Naturally, this would be the martial arts of the Jegal Clan. However, the aura emanating from it was quite heterogeneous.
It was too gloomy to be called a divine art, yet had too much formal structure to be simply called a demonic art.
Still.
‘This is based on demonic arts.’
Neung Hyeong’s two fists spewed fire.
Kwa-bang!
With an explosive sound, white smoke rose from both of Jeogal Myeong’s hands.
‘This bastard?!’
Jeogal Myeong was inwardly flustered.
‘How is he matching me blow for blow?’
The Great Heavenly Star Divine Art was by itself one of the divine arts that could be counted on one hand in the Jegal Clan.
Moreover, with the Red Soul Qi added to it, it wouldn’t be inferior even compared to the family head’s secret divine art. Rather, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say its destructive power surpassed the Family Head’s Art.
Yet his opponent didn’t fall easily.
Pa-pa-pang!
Jeogal Myeong, who had seized Neung Hyeong’s rear with the Heavenly Mystery Bewildering Steps, unleashed the Great Heavenly Star Divine Palm.
It was close range, and it seemed that even Neung Hyeong wouldn’t be able to dodge or block it.
Peo-eong!
An explosion occurred in empty air.
Jeogal Myeong was extremely flustered.
‘He dodged?!’
Surprisingly, his opponent had escaped the striking range of the Great Heavenly Star Divine Palm with just one step.
That wasn’t all. Instead, he appeared from the side and thrust his fist toward the ribs, a position difficult to dodge or block from the stance of unleashing the Great Heavenly Star Divine Palm.
Jeogal Myeong quickly drew up his true energy.
Bang!
A terrifying impact shook his entire body.
He had drawn up his protective energy in an instant, but couldn’t time it perfectly. His insides churned and his vision shook.
“Damn!”
Hwa-a-ak!
The surging aura from the enraged Jeogal Myeong’s body became even more violent.
It was a terrifying power, a force that could bind an opponent’s limbs with aura alone.
However, Neung Hyeong felt no intimidation from that aura.
He himself was a master of demonic arts, and was currently learning the supreme divine art of Bul Moon. It was meaningless from the start.
“Five exchanges passed long ago.”
“You bastard!”
“But you, is this really martial arts you enlightened yourself?”
Neung Hyeong’s face clearly showed suspicious colors.
“It feels like you copied the martial arts of someone who reached that level?”
“Shut up!”
The excited Jeogal Myeong unleashed fist and palm techniques with merciless power.
These were attacks that would endanger even Neung Hyeong’s life if he took even one wrong hit.
However, none of those attacks touched Neung Hyeong’s body. Neung Hyeong avoided all attacks with exquisite body movements, and drove his fists into the gaps that appeared intermittently.
All of his attacks landed cleanly without exception.
“Keu-euk!”
Jeogal Myeong’s face gradually turned pale after taking seven punches in an instant.
‘This can’t be!’
It was unbelievable.
That the deeply enlightened martial arts of the Jegal Clan would be nullified so easily.
“This is impossible!”
Jeogal Myeong screamed and launched another attack.
It was a meaningless act.
The more he got excited and used powerful martial arts, the more concise Neung Hyeong’s movements became. He had already grown accustomed to his opponent’s movements.
That wasn’t all.
Peo-peng!
From the mighty power of the White Lotus Vajra Palm, Jeogal Myeong even coughed up blood.
“This is so soft it’s beyond words.”
Neung Hyeong clicked his tongue.
“The power can uproot mountains and overturn the world, but there’s no finesse to be found even if you wash your eyes and look.”
The internal energy operation method itself was usable. Even during the war, those who could use such powerful energy release were hard to find except for deputy commander-level personnel.
However, he lacked too much experience. He wondered if this person had ever fought for his life against an enemy in the first place.
“The achievement of the divine art itself is also strange. You’ve reached a level, but it’s loose and full of gaps as if it’s not even yours.”
“Sh-shut up!”
“So that’s how it is.”
Neung Hyeong, recalling his conversation with Moyong Bi, nodded.
“The one who transmitted the enlightenment itself to you is the real mastermind behind this incident.”
Jeogal Myeong’s eyes widened.
An expression stained with shock—it was far too honest a reaction for someone who had lived hiding himself so well until now.
Seeing that appearance, Neung Hyeong realized one more thing.
“It wasn’t just enlightenment that was transmitted. There was a separate real ringleader who made the Jegal Clan into this state. You’re nothing but a wooden puppet dancing on that bastard’s palm.”
“You bastaaaard!!”
As if he would never acknowledge it, red aura surged from Jeogal Myeong’s body as he charged again.
That color, much redder than before, looked like the color of blood.
‘Red type. And quite a high level at that.’
It was similar to the demonic art called Red Soul Qi, but mixed with the Jegal Clan’s martial arts, he couldn’t be certain.
That was exactly the problem.
‘Can demonic arts and divine arts be mixed?!’
It wasn’t impossible to hide the nature of demonic arts by calling them half-baked demonic arts. After all, those who developed that were casting shadows in this era.
However, ‘combining’ demonic arts and divine arts was a completely different matter.
‘If that’s possible.’
Bang!
The Bright King Eighteen Kicks landed squarely on Jeogal Myeong’s chest.
Jeogal Myeong, who was sent flying in a straight line, rolled on the ground several times. Seeing him spurt blood intermittently, he had clearly suffered quite serious internal injuries.
Neung Hyeong’s eyes sparkled.
‘Could I try it too?’
Then, Jeogal Myeong raised his head.
Neung Hyeong, who had expected the demonic nature to intensify in earnest, momentarily felt absurd.
“Uu-euh.”
What cast over Jeogal Myeong’s two eyes was fear.
The more cornered they became, the more the red race would rage and unleash greater power. Yet this one was feeling fear more than anger.
“What kind of crazy coward is that…?”
Jeogal Myeong’s next action went beyond even Neung Hyeong’s common sense.
“No!”
Thud!
Seeing him suddenly turn his back and flee, Neung Hyeong couldn’t help but feel bewildered.
To run away in fear during a life-and-death battle? And a descendant of the Jegal Clan at that?!
“This crazy bastard!”
He was angry and dumbfounded, but urgency was the greatest emotion.
He hurriedly chased after him, but the distance wasn’t easily closed. Though he could overwhelm him in combat, Jeogal Myeong’s internal energy itself was superior, so there was bound to be a difference in speed.
“Damn it! I don’t want to be mocked by that damn junior!”
With a roar, he poured out all the power of the Heavenly Dragon Demon Divine Art to increase his speed.
The direction the two were heading was northwest, where the forest and shrine were located.
* * *
“Cough!”
Jegal Chung Yang, who had fallen to his knees, spat blood.
His complexion was far from normal. He had clearly suffered severe internal injuries.
“Quite impressive.”
Baek Ho’s voice was monotone, but it carried the intimidating presence of a roaring tiger.
“I heard you haven’t become the young family head yet. I can’t understand it. With your level of ability, the family head must know you’re more than qualified to be the next head.”
“With your filthy mouth… don’t speak of Father.”
“Come to think of it, that bastard who’s your father might have found your abilities rather distasteful.”
Baek Ho looked around.
It wasn’t vast enough to be called expansive, but it was a fairly wide clearing. And that clearing was filled with hundreds of kneeling scholars.
“If he’s a fool who values literature over martial arts despite being from a martial family, that’s possible.”
Killing intent flashed in Jegal Chung Yang’s eyes.
“Shut up!”
“The one who should shut up is you. We have nothing to receive from you people.”
It meant they had no value as hostages.
“Then why aren’t you killing us?!”
Jegal Lin looked at her elder brother with worried eyes. She had never seen her eldest brother in such an emotional state.
Baek Ho shook his head.
“That’s not for me to decide. I don’t think ‘that person’ intends to keep you alive either, but at least not now. When the order comes, I’ll kill you without hesitation.”
“Filthy bastards! What orders could demons like you possibly have? Kill us right now!”
“There were orders to keep you alive, but no orders not to torment you. You’d better watch your words.”
“Do you think I’d fear torture?!”
“I wonder if you’ve ever actually experienced real torture.”
Naturally, Jegal Chung Yang had never experienced anything like torture.
Even so, Jegal Chung Yang was confident his spirit would never break. And considering his personality, his confidence was reasonably trustworthy.
But at Baek Ho’s next words, he felt a bone-chilling fear in his stomach.
“Flaying flesh and crushing bones isn’t the only form of torture.”
Baek Ho glanced at Jegal Lin.
“Your younger sister is quite pretty.”
“…?!”
“She could provide good comfort for my excited subordinates.”
The meaning of those words was clear.
Jegal Lin’s face turned deathly pale. And Jegal Chung Yang’s face became even more ashen than hers.
Baek Ho turned around.
“So don’t provoke us needlessly. We have many means to make you clearly recognize that we are demons.”
In the end, Jegal Chung Yang couldn’t open his mouth.
With his arms crossed, looking toward the Family Head’s Office in the distance, Baek Ho felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
‘I’m not sure what it is.’
He was evaluated as the strongest among the Twelve Zodiac Gods under White Marquis, alongside White Dragon. In fact, he was stronger than the other Zodiac Gods except White Dragon, even without learning the Overlapping Art.
Naturally, his qi sensitivity and sixth sense were superior to theirs as well.
That sense was warning him.
‘Something has happened.’
The demons sent to the Family Head’s Office hadn’t returned yet.
That wasn’t all. He could sense a nerve-grating energy from somewhere even farther than the Family Head’s Office.
‘Demon-subduing energy… could it be that a master from the Buddhist sect has come?’
If that were really the case, it would be quite troublesome.
Of course, the operation wouldn’t fail. If they were truly facing failure, then the Jegal Family wouldn’t remain unharmed either.
‘In any case, it means variables have emerged.’
That’s when it happened.
“What a magnificent sight.”
That calm voice was filled with satisfaction and wistfulness.
Baek Ho, who had turned his head, knelt down on the spot.
“I pay my respects to the White Marquis’ Vice-Leader.”
All the demons in formation knelt down following Baek Ho.
“We pay our respects to the White Marquis’ Vice-Leader!”
The resounding voices were like the roars of dozens of great tigers.
Jegal Chung Yang and Jegal Lin’s faces were colored with shock.
“U-Uncle?!”
“Chung Yang’s face is badly hurt. Well, you always appear cold and indifferent on the outside, but in reality, few are as passionate as you.”
A man walking over with a calm smile.
He was none other than Jegal Moon, who had shouted at Jeogal Myeong that this shouldn’t happen, the one whom family head Jegal Dan had trusted to the end along with Jeong Gal Ryun.
His sickly complexion was still pale.
However, that pale face looked particularly eerie today.
“What a wonderful day. The scent of blood is so sweet.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————