Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 202

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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 202. Connecting Past and Present (2)

It was a strange thing to say.

But somehow, Moyong Bi felt like he could understand the true meaning behind those words.

Moyong Bi, who had been quietly observing Sama Jin Gung, raised his hand.

Whoosh!

Along with a refreshing breeze, the Gi Mak was removed.

“You want our families to form an alliance?”

“That’s correct.”

“What, are you suggesting some kind of political marriage?”

“You may think of it however you like. If necessary, we could pursue that, but knowing Lord Moyong’s personality as I do, you wouldn’t rashly try to create such connections.”

“You’ve read me correctly.”

Ja Dam’s ears perked up as the conversation began to resume.

Sama Jin Gung spoke calmly.

“I have witnessed countless cases where even parents and children draw swords against each other. Even if blood ties are formed, if the two families have different intentions, they could become enemies at any time.”

“That would be the case.”

“However, I have also seen many cases where complete strangers risk their lives to protect each other.”

“Such cases certainly exist.”

“I hope the Sama Clan Members and Moyong Clan Members can have that kind of relationship.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I know that even the words alone are difficult.”

“Those very words you think are difficult are easy compared to the actual process.”

“….”

“Whether it’s alliance or friendship or whatever, organizations are places created by people gathering together. There’s always only one way for relationships between people to become strong.”

“What is that?”

“Respecting each other.”

“That’s a bland and obvious thing to say.”

“Because people can’t do that bland thing, relationships don’t work out. Because they can’t do that obvious thing, they call obvious words cliché and spout nonsense while looking for useless tricks.”

Sama Jin Gung nodded.

“You’re not wrong.”

“If your side wants to move toward a good relationship with the Main Family House, just extend your hand comfortably first. Relationships connected only by words end with words.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“If you understand, then let me ask you something too.”

A look of puzzlement appeared on Moyong Bi’s face.

“Why are you going so far as to mention alliance and extend your hand to work together?”

“It’s not just because of the past between our two families. The Previous Alliance Leader and the Elders of the Main Family were close friends, but the families themselves weren’t particularly close.”

“To be precise, it was ordinary.”

“You may not believe this, but to me, the Previous Alliance Leader was the protagonist of some wonderful heroic tale I’d been reading since childhood.”

“….”

“If I could form a good connection with the family he belonged to, there would be no greater honor than that.”

“But that’s not the end of it, is it?”

At Moyong Bi’s sharp words, Sama Jin Gung nodded as if it were natural.

“Of course not. If I were just an individual, it might be different, but in my position representing the Sama Clan, it would be difficult to make such a decision based on simple admiration alone.”

“Hmm.”

Moyong Bi, who had been stroking his chin, soon lit up his eyes.

“The Ho Yeon Clan.”

Sama Jin Gung was genuinely impressed.

“Lord Moyong’s insight is truly admirable.”

“You should see how old I am.”

To Ja Dam’s ears, that sounded like a joke, but to Sama Jin Gung, it wasn’t a joke.

“The Elders of the Main Family never come to the forefront. They thoroughly only teach the younger generation, and it’s the active Sama Clan Members who are well-studied and well-trained who lead the Main Family House.”

“So?”

“But just because they’re active doesn’t mean they can disregard the elders.”

“That’s only natural.”

“Let me speak frankly. The hatred of the Sama Clan elders toward the Ho Yeon Clan is tremendous. And that is….”

Sama Jin Gung’s eyes flashed.

“The same goes for the Moyong Family, doesn’t it?”

A cruel smile appeared on Moyong Bi’s face.

At that terrifying smile, Sama Jin Gung involuntarily flinched.

“The word ‘same’ is used when things are identical or at least similar, isn’t it?”

“….”

“I don’t know how much the Sama Clan Members hate the Ho Yeon Clan, but they couldn’t dare compare to our hatred.”

Explosive emotion was embedded in the voice that ended calmly.

Sama Jin Gung, who calmed his mind with a light cough, nodded and spoke.

“Whatever the case, both families hate the Ho Yeon Clan and have debts to collect. If word gets out that the two families have joined hands, even the Ho Yeon Clan, quite far from the heart of the Central Plains, will react immediately.”

“They would react at any time anyway.”

“I have no intention of letting the debt we need to collect from them sit and ferment quietly. What do you think, Lord Moyong?”

“Of course we need to collect it.”

“Then there’s no more reason to hesitate.”

“….”

“Let’s work together.”

* * *

The next day.

“Oh, I slept well. When did you come in?”

Neung Hyeong approached Moyong Bi and Ja Dam, who were eating breakfast in a corner of the inn.

Moyong Bi spoke with a cold face.

“You bastard, what money do you have to book the most expensive room here?”

“Come on, how much could it be? Don’t be so petty.”

“Pay for it with your own money.”

“Should I steal some?”

“You shameless bastard.”

“You crazy bastard! Show respect to your elders!”

The two were bickering well from the morning.

Ja Dam politely stood up and bowed her head.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Oh, did you sleep well too?”

In terms of physical age, they were only a year or two apart, and Ja Dam, with her mature appearance characteristic of Western Region people, looked older than Neung Hyeong, but neither of them found such behavior awkward at all.

Neung Hyeong, who had boldly taken the central seat, ordered meat porridge and asked.

“What did you talk about?”

“Mind your own business.”

“You won’t say a single word easily. Damn, you shameless bastard.”

Moyong Bi silently looked out the window and sipped his tea.

Ja Dam, who had been quietly reading his mood, got up from her seat.

“I’ll go to my room to prepare for departure.”

“Alright.”

After Ja Dam left, the meat porridge came out shortly after.

Neung Hyeong excitedly devoured the porridge. The meat porridge containing three servings by special order completely disappeared in less than half the time.

“Burp! As expected, porridge is the best for a hangover cure. Hot and filling.”

Neung Hyeong, who was pushing a piece of meat stuck between his teeth with his tongue, tilted his head.

“What’s wrong with you? You look completely dejected.”

Only then did Moyong Bi turn his head toward Neung Hyeong.

Neung Hyeong openly frowned. He didn’t like the look in Moyong Bi’s eyes as he stared at him.

“What now? Why? Want to spar from the morning?”

“What is the Divine Seed?”

“…Huh?”

“You asked me before why I wasn’t curious, right? Now I’m curious. Why didn’t you properly return to the afterlife after death and wait until I died?”

Neung Hyeong, who had been glancing around nervously, cleared his throat and stood up.

“Ugh, I feel bloated. I should go to the outhouse and wash up.”

Neung Hyeong shuffled away and disappeared like an arrow.

Moyong Bi turned his head again to look toward the window.

After a moment.

“Damn it.”

Neung Hyeong returned with heavy footsteps and sat down in his chair.

“Why are you suddenly curious about this?”

Moyong Bi spoke in a monotone voice.

“That bastard Sama Jin Gung said he’s done a lot of research on your side.”

“That ice popsicle?”

“He doesn’t believe the nonsense about divine resurrection himself, but he said he dug into many methods like soul summoning and soul separation techniques.”

Neung Hyeong’s eyes deepened.

“Yeah, he researched a lot.”

“You know some of those methods too, right?”

“No.”

“Are you still drunk?”

“I’m serious. The research they handle is unknown even to the Alliance Leader. A few select elders controlled it thoroughly.”

“Are you really the Alliance Leader? You call yourself the Divine Representative?”

“Fuck, that’s why I don’t believe in the divine. Even if the divine isn’t an omnipotent being, how could they not know such things, and how could they even think of deceiving the divine? Thinking about it makes me angry again.”

Moyong Bi’s face became serious.

“I’ve thought this before, but I really can’t understand how your Sacred Blood Palace operates. Sometimes it looks like one absolute monarch wielding power at will, but other times it seems like the real masters are the elders and the Alliance Leader is just a puppet.”

Neung Hyeong smiled bitterly.

“A puppet… that’s not far from the truth.”

“Anyway, you’re saying you don’t know the soul summoning and soul separation techniques they were researching?”

“Right. Therefore, that ice popsicle’s words are lies.”

“What?”

“I said they’re lies. Do you think it makes sense that the Hubei Branch’s Alliance Leader could investigate and learn about research so classified that they wouldn’t even tell the Alliance Leader?”

Moyong Bi nodded.

“That’s true.”

“That bastard probably spouted such nonsense because he wanted to brag about how outstanding he is.”

“Not everyone in the world is like you.”

“If everyone were like me, the world would have become paradise.”

“This isn’t something to just end with bragging. The very fact that he knows they put effort into researching soul summoning and soul separation means he was properly investigating.”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t that right? How would Sama Jin Gung have known in the first place that Sacred Blood Palace was researching such secret arts?”

“…That’s true.”

“In the end, there’s only one answer. Either Sama Jin Gung really did properly investigate your Sacred Blood Palace, or he’s being deceived.”

Neung Hyeong’s eyes deepened.

“Deceived?”

“Your words make sense too. Research conducted without even the Alliance Leader’s knowledge was revealed through the investigation of a mere Martial Alliance branch’s Alliance Leader? Of course it’s not impossible, but considering your behavior so far, doesn’t it feel like you were defeated too easily?”

“What do you mean by our behavior?”

“The behavior of hiding thoroughly after getting beaten to death, then secretly stabbing enemies in the back.”

“You really have such a pretty way of speaking. You’re such a bastard.”

Moyong Bi crossed his arms.

“Those who moved so secretly are now sending demons to sparring competitions, and before that, they blew up all the places where they spread demonic manuals, playing serious games with the world.”

“Hmm.”

“Sama Jin Gung’s abilities are certainly remarkable. But I don’t think Sacred Blood Palace’s actions are inferior to Sama Jin Gung’s.”

Neung Hyeong’s eyes flashed.

“So they deliberately leaked it or deceived him?”

“I’d rather hope that’s the case.”

“What do you mean?”

Moyong Bi’s face darkened.

“What if they were guarding it carelessly because it had become useless information?”

“…?!”

“Whatever their purpose, those bastards would have achieved their goal.”

Neung Hyeong’s expression stiffened.

“Achieved their goal? Don’t tell me those bastards really summoned a divine being?”

“If I knew that, I would have been the Alliance Leader, you crazy bastard.”

“Why are you suddenly cursing?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to explain what this Divine Seed thing is.”

“…Ugh.”

Neung Hyeong placed his clasped hands on the table, hung his head low, and turned it this way and that. He seemed unable to focus his gaze on any one place.

After a moment.

Neung Hyeong sighed.

“I’ll tell you when we get home.”

Though he didn’t understand why it had to be that way, Moyong Bi readily nodded.

That attitude was even more burdensome to Neung Hyeong. It seemed like he was saying he’d make life truly unbearable if he didn’t tell him even after getting home.

“Go wash up. We’re going straight home without stopping anywhere.”

“Understood.”

Neung Hyeong, who had risen from his seat, looked down at Moyong Bi as if something had occurred to him.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Wasn’t your goal to rebuild your family clan?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why do you care so much about demons? No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like it’s really about responsibility or anything.”

Moyong Bi, who moistened his throat with a sip of tea, spoke calmly.

“I’m not stupid enough to ignore news of a tiger attack in the village near where I’m planning to build my house.”

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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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