Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 178

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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 178. Shadow in the Clouds (3)

Moyong Bi felt that the moment of choice had come.

And he did not make the mistake of showing his heart to his opponent.

“I know because it’s worth knowing.”

“That’s quite a peculiar answer.”

“I may know of the Circle of Infinite Truth Scripture, but I don’t know its incantations. I merely know of its existence.”

“I’m not asking whether you know the incantations of the Circle of Infinite Truth Scripture. In reality, no one can know that until they receive direct transmission. Even by the slimmest chance, it would be impossible for you to learn that martial art.”

That’s not when you use the phrase “by the slimmest chance,” Heo Joong.

Moyong Bi held back what he wanted to say.

Right now, he had to treat him not as a familiar comrade-in-arms, but as Heo Joong Jin In, the former elder of the Mu Dang Faction.

“There’s nothing that absolutely cannot be known, but it’s certain that you cannot know it. I’m curious about how you came to know of the Circle of Infinite Truth Scripture.”

“Is this answer so important to you?”

“It could be important to you.”

Moyong Bi understood the meaning of those words.

“For the same reason I was able to learn the Three Pure Infinite Truth Formula.”

It was an ambiguous answer.

It could mean that he knew because he was Moyong Cheon, the Martial Alliance Leader, but to Heo Joong Jin In, it could sound like he had obtained secret manuals or historical records containing all of Moyong Cheon’s martial arts and knowledge.

The existence of myself and my current bloodline is itself the truth.

Heo Joong Jin In, who had been quietly observing Moyong Bi, spoke with a heavy expression.

“I’ll ask one more question. Perhaps it could be the most important question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you come out into the world?”

“A strange question.”

Heo Joong Jin In thought so too. He himself was not in a clear state either.

That’s why he needed to hear the answer even more.

“I and the surviving Taoist priests of the previous generation, that is, those of the Heo generation, no longer interfere in Mu Dang’s affairs.”

“That’s regrettable.”

“There were circumstances that made it unavoidable, and those circumstances are ongoing. If I were to make excuses, I could say it’s a situation where even if I wanted to stop my junior disciples’ reckless acts, I cannot.”

Heo Joong Jin In called them reckless acts.

Though he didn’t know how much he knew, it was clear that he too was displeased with the behavior of the current leaders of Mu Dang.

“We are on Moodang Mountain, but not at the main sect centered around Ja Seo Palace. Like many Taoist priests who have retired from active duty, we are scattered throughout Moodang Mountain.”

“I know.”

“Moreover, as I told you earlier, due to circumstances I cannot explain, I am in a position where I can hear even less about Jianghu affairs.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I heard from Ja Dam. Recently, a member of the Moyong family appeared at the Hubei Martial Arts Tournament. When she told me about the Circle of Infinite Truth Scripture and spoke of you, you cannot imagine how surprised both Ja Dam, who was speaking, and I, who was listening, were.”

“…”

“I wanted to descend the mountain immediately and meet the Moyong family members. But I couldn’t. In the midst of this, I received a letter saying that the Jegal Family Head was requesting help.”

It was a letter that could reach them precisely because they were not involved in the main sect’s affairs, because they were scattered.

From the Jegal Clan’s perspective, it could be called extremely fortunate.

“I couldn’t easily descend the mountain, but somehow I was able to do so. And now, I am seeing someone at the Jegal Clan that I never dared imagine I would see.”

“…”

“Your level, having learned the martial arts of the Previous Alliance Leader, is difficult for even my eyes to gauge now. From the perspective of Taoist cultivation, you appear to have reached the level of Sun and Moon Unity, but your gaze and energy appear to me like murky fog, too complex to categorize by such levels.”

If he could see that, then Heo Joong Jin In was certainly properly learning the true martial arts of the Mu Dang Faction.

“I heard that you have now reached the age of twenty. I can say with certainty that you are not of an age to have reached such a level. Of course, there’s a possibility that you are an unprecedented genius, but for that to be the case, your flowing internal energy is far too abundant and profound.”

Even geniuses who grow while defying time cannot transcend certain benefits that only time can give.

In Heo Joong Jin In’s view, Moyong Bi was someone who had grasped all of those benefits as well.

A level that would be difficult even for someone over forty. That was precisely why Heo Joong Jin In wanted to understand Moyong Bi more deeply.

“I understand that the Moyong Family is in a very difficult situation. But if there were a genius like you, there would be no reason to be in such circumstances. Yet until the martial arts tournament was held, you did not emerge into the world.”

“There are many reasons.”

“Was it to avoid the eyes of the Ho Yeon Clan?”

“I suppose that could be considered one of the reasons.”

“It’s a truly frustrating answer, but I’ll understand it that way for now. But there must be other reasons as well.”

“…”

“Why did you emerge into the world only now?”

Moyong Bi was able to find an answer suitable for both Heo Joong Jin In and himself within a very brief moment of contemplation.

“Because I was ready.”

At the chilling feeling from those few words, Heo Joong Jin In felt his spine grow cold.

“What kind of preparation do you mean? Preparation to take revenge on the world?”

“If the scope of the world that Noh Do Jang speaks of means the entire Central Plains, then no. I said that I understand the countless organizations that had no choice but to betray the Moyong Clan, and I have no intention of extracting blood payment from them as well.”

“…Then?”

“Those who played a decisive role in making our main family into a family of fraudsters.”

“…”

“Those are the ones from whom I must extract blood payment. Of course, if they show clear repentance and offer a suitable apology, as a descendant of the victim family, I am willing to consider some leniency. However.”

An undeniable killing intent arose in Moyong Bi’s eyes.

A terrifying killing intent that was unimaginable for someone who had learned Taoist martial arts, one that would be difficult to see even on a battlefield.

“At the very least, I cannot forgive the Ho Yeon Clan and their cohorts.”

Heo Joong Jin In spoke in a heavy voice.

“In the case of sects or merchant groups with circumstances, you mean you could overlook them if they have reasonable justification.”

“As for whether that reasonableness is truly reasonable, they themselves must prove it with a thoughtful attitude.”

“In other words, the Mu Dang Faction is also included in that category.”

“If you were hoping it might not be, wouldn’t that be too shameless?”

“As you know, when the entire martial world said that the Moyong family should not be left alive, we were the ones who became their shield to the very end.”

“And the Mu Dang Faction toyed with the life of a boy who was only fourteen, and brought a terrible life upon his sisters.”

Heo Joong Jin In unconsciously closed his eyes.

Moyong Bi spoke coldly.

“I am grateful that you preserved the lives of the Moyong family members. This is sincere. However, because of what you did, our main family had to live a life worse than dying honorably.”

“…”

“There is something called the Merit and Demerit Record. Though my sisters and I are neither Heavenly Honored Ones nor Supreme Emperors, as those in a position to claim damages, I want to say that the favor you claim has long since died.”

The emotion embedded in that ice-cold voice was an unavoidable sense of betrayal.

The more he spoke, the more Moyong Bi felt his anger rising.

The sight of Heo Joong Jin In, one of his old comrades, making a pitying expression angered him.

The sight of that good comrade, who used to weep while slaughtering enemies despite being sad about the reality of having to draw his sword as a Taoist priest, looking confused made him feel bad.

But what was most unbearable was his own heart, which could not let go of his gladness to see Heo Joong Jin In even in such a moment.

Moyong Bi was truly glad to see him.

He wanted to immediately take his hand and stop by some Taoist monastery to drink tea while reminiscing about past memories. He wanted to comfort him, saying that those times were truly difficult for both of them, but didn’t they overcome it well? He wanted to say that he too had aged quite a lot, and that they should meet often from now on.

But he could not do so.

And Moyong Bi was angry at the reality that made it impossible.

“I understand you.”

“…”

“I don’t know exactly what you want, but you are deliberately playing the villain in front of me right now. You know best how you would appear if you subtly suggested whether there might be a more moderate method without trying to provoke me more than necessary.”

“…”

“And there’s no need to continue playing the villain in front of me, who knows even that much.”

Heo Joong Jin In opened his eyes with difficulty.

In that brief moment, he seemed to have aged twice as much.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

“No, I must apologize to you.”

“I refuse.”

“We too, because our people were more important, failed to prevent the Moyong family from reaching that state. All the fault lies with the former Taoist priests of Mu Dang.”

“It’s the parents’ fault for raising a child poorly. However, that can only be applied until guidance is possible. For parents to bear the burden of a child’s wrongdoings when that child has already grown and knows what grudges are—that would be an excessively harsh measure.”

“…!”

“So don’t try to redirect our anger toward your disciples back onto yourselves.”

He was reading everything.

Watching the young man who read his heart completely, Heo Joong Jin In felt as if the Alliance Leader he had once shed blood and sweat with had returned to life.

So he felt joy and pride. And even more than that, he felt sorrow.

Because the Moyong Clan would not allow them to bear all the wrongs and sins.

Tears flowed from Heo Joong Jin In’s eyes.

“In the end, we cannot even take on the pouring hatred in their place?”

Moyong Bi also felt his emotions surge at those tears.

But he maintained his composure to the end.

“Don’t become foolish until the very end.”

“…What do you mean?”

“If one commits a crime, one must naturally take responsibility. And that responsibility belongs to your disciples. Trying to take away your disciples’ rights is an act that robs them of even the chance to acknowledge their crimes, isn’t it?”

“…!!”

“The capacity for responsibility that a person can accept is limited. You, or all of you saying you’ll bear all of the Wudang Sect’s sins—that would rather be an act of deceiving us.”

It was a rebuke so stern it was almost solemn.

Heo Joong Jin In felt his heart grow even heavier at those words.

At the same time, he felt his eyes opening.

“Responsibility….”

“….”

“Yes, if one commits a crime, one must naturally bear the responsibility that follows. That is the natural order.”

Heo Joong Jin In unconsciously burst into hearty laughter.

“You’re right. In my arrogance, I was trying to ruin everything until the end, driven by anger and regret at not being able to stop my disciples.”

“….”

“You are admirable.”

“I’ve never done anything worthy of such respect.”

“In your eyes, that child Ja Dam must have looked no different from the radical faction disciples. I don’t know if it was because she knew the Wonmujin Eon Gyeong, but your self-restraint in precisely measuring your grudge when you could have hated the entire Wudang Sect is conduct worthy of respect. And… it’s conduct we’re grateful for.”

“Don’t over-interpret something natural as something great.”

“Then I too must have been nothing but a foolish old man who couldn’t see the natural as natural.”

Heo Joong Jin In closed his eyes.

“Do you have time?”

“That depends on what kind of matter it is.”

“Would you come with me to see my senior brother?”

“…!!”

“Would you like to meet Heo Do Jin In, Ja Dam’s master and my senior brother?”

Turbulent emotions arose on Moyong Bi’s face.

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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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