Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 213

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 213. The True Enemy Was Elsewhere (3)
Clang!
The sound of swords colliding resonated throughout the entire Moyong Family compound.
That terrifying clash startled not only the Fire Sword Group in the midst of their training, but also the Moyong Clan members, and even Ja Dam and a few laborers.
Whoosh!
Though no visible shockwave erupted, Dark Shadow found himself involuntarily retreating ten paces backward.
‘This… this can’t be!’
From a single collision, both warriors retreated five paces each.
Interest flickered across Neung Hyeong’s face while unwavering seriousness etched itself upon Guo Lao’s.
Without any particularly spectacular energy wave, the very air itself transformed.
A suffocating sensation that one absolutely must not enter their domain. An overwhelming pressure that suggested stepping carelessly into their space would result in one’s body being severed into pieces, dying without even a chance to scream.
“Impressive. For a crippled body missing a leg, you’ve managed to channel your strength quite well.”
“From the sword of one called the Demon King flows the aura of Buddha. A lamentable sight. Now you even attempt to deceive with Buddhist nature itself.”
“At least before you, I can become an Evil Buddha.”
“A being whose very existence is demonic speaks such words with ease.”
“I’ve thought it since our first meeting—you’re truly insufferable.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Come on, you bastard!”
“I accept.”
Whoosh!
Guo Lao surged forward once more.
Dark Shadow’s eyes widened in shock.
‘The Ten Steps of Shadow Protection!’
Among all the martial arts transmitted by Guo Lao, the Ten Steps of Shadow Protection represented his highest achievement.
That footwork, simple yet marked by extreme restraint, remarkably contained deeper martial principles than any technique he had learned during his days as an assassin.
Simple yet not simple. Still, being of assassin origins, his learning had been quite rapid, but observing Guo Lao’s footwork made him realize he remained far, far behind.
Clang!
Guo Lao’s slashing attack, gripping the side and rising from below to upper right, was nothing short of art.
Neung Hyeong’s eyes gleamed.
“Your strength is considerable.”
“You seem quite at ease.”
Clang clang clang clang clang!
With a single wrist movement, five thrusting attacks materialized.
Five streaks of sword light piercing like phantoms. Steel flowers in their purest form.
Clang!
The sword that grazed past Neung Hyeong’s body dissipated uselessly.
Boom!
A palm strike from the hand not wielding the sword shattered a portion of Guo Lao’s hair.
Dark Shadow gasped in horror.
‘An assassin?!’
Guo Lao and Neung Hyeong were genuinely attacking each other. They offered no room for retreat, wielding martial arts that would result in utter destruction if not defended against.
‘Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be a sparring match?!’
Crack crack crack crack!
After exchanging sword and fist techniques several times, the two suddenly moved with frantic speed.
They circled without attacking, then suddenly charged forward head-on, only to twist their upper bodies diagonally and slip away to the side.
Dark Shadow’s mind was in complete chaos.
‘Why, why?!’
Before he could interpret one movement, the next one came.
They moved with instantaneous understanding of both their opponent’s situation and their own. This wasn’t random movement—they were engaged in a battle of strategy.
There was no room for showmanship in a fight where one misstep could cost your life.
Dark Shadow was witnessing a footwork duel between true masters who had reached the pinnacle of their realm.
Crack crack crack crack!
In an instant, Guo Lao charged forward with swift feet, and Neung Hyeong retreated roughly backward.
It was a remarkable sight.
Given Neung Hyeong’s temperament, one would think he’d never retreat even in death, yet he withdrew with a serious expression, employing footwork techniques.
Similarly, Guo Lao, whose nature suggested he’d maintain a thoroughly defensive stance, was displaying excessively aggressive movements.
Clang! Screech!
Finally, the two swords clashed once more.
It was less a collision than a graze, but the eerie resonance of the blades sent shivers down Dark Shadow’s spine.
Then Neung Hyeong thrust his left foot forward.
Boom!
Dust erupted around where his foot struck the ground.
Guo Lao, who had been charging aggressively, quickly launched himself into the air, and beneath him, a massive flash of light erupted.
Flash!
The sword strike Neung Hyeong unleashed created a tremendous golden crescent.
It was a merciless slash—a blow that even the legendary Guo Lao seemed unable to defend against.
At least, that’s what any observer would have thought.
“Impressive.”
Pang pang!
Guo Lao, who had burst shockwaves from several kicks in mid-air, landed at a distance.
Keen interest flickered across Neung Hyeong’s face.
“I thought you’d block and counter the Demon Devil Single Slash, but you evaded it instead?”
Dark Shadow unconsciously swallowed hard.
He thought he’d block and counter? Then did that mean the senior had enough strength to fully defend against such a monstrous blow?
Guo Lao spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Your next move is obvious, so why would I block?”
Neung Hyeong genuinely admired this.
“You’re quite skilled at reading tactics. Is this what guard warriors are trained in?”
“In our line of work, where we must always read our opponent’s next move, this level of basic knowledge is nothing special.”
“Oh?”
“Yet you yourself seem to be hiding your true strength entirely?”
Neung Hyeong laughed coldly.
“Do you truly wish to die?”
Boom!
The fist wind erupting from Guo Lao’s punch exploded right before Neung Hyeong’s face.
The attack was so formidable that even Neung Hyeong, who blocked it, staggered back. Though he had only cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Demon Subduing Technique for less than half a year, delivering such an impact to one of his profound understanding was truly no simple feat.
Guo Lao spoke in a chilling voice.
“In a single battle, life and death are decided. Thus, the life of one who protects is always arduous.”
“….”
“How is your battle? Heavier than mine?”
“…Very well.”
Crash!
A brilliant golden Energy Wave began to bloom from Neung Hyeong’s body.
“Since you’ve already seen the coffin, I cannot face you carelessly. I shall even drive the nails into the casket myself and place you inside directly.”
Boom!
The collision of the two shook heaven and earth.
Startled people came running, but the two paid no mind to their surroundings, unleashing assassin techniques like madmen.
Yet they skillfully minimized the range of shockwaves to prevent damage to the area around them.
Moyong Su Jeong’s face grew turbulent.
“Truly remarkable.”
“Is it not?”
“I knew Guo Lao’s Martial Arts were formidable, but… calling him extraordinary would hardly be an exaggeration.”
Moyong Bi smiled.
“He was the closest bodyguard to the Family Head of the Moyong across All Under Heaven. He was even called one of the ten greatest masters in the bodyguard industry, so this is nothing special.”
Guo Lao himself had not yet recovered the power of his prime. In those days when Guo Ho Gyun was at his peak, he would return having mowed down even masters who had reached higher realms than himself like wheat stalks.
“Guo Lao aside….”
Moyong Su Jeong clicked her tongue.
“I did not expect Master Neung’s skill to be of this caliber.”
Neung Hyeong’s Martial Arts appeared rough, yet simultaneously highly refined.
Though the battle seemed like one where one of them must surely die, the reason admiration rather than worry arose was precisely because of Neung Hyeong.
Neung Hyeong was adopting a defensive stance rather than attacking. Yet he showed moments of overwhelming Guo Lao.
It was unlike one who spoke of offense as the best defense, but for one who had already reached the realm of unified offense and defense, such words held little meaning.
Moyong Su Hyang swallowed hard.
“This… is truly a battle of true masters.”
“No.”
“Huh? No, you say?”
“It is a battle of true masters indeed, but it is premature to marvel at this level.”
“…!”
“Had they resolved to do so, half of the Main Family House would have already collapsed.”
Moyong Bi’s eyes deepened.
He read the martial arts of both fighters better than anyone else in this place.
Neither Guo Lao nor Neung Hyeong was truly fighting.
To be precise, Guo Lao was struggling to suppress his power to avoid killing his opponent, while Neung Hyeong, though irritated by such restraint, marveled at defensive methods he had never witnessed before and deliberately left openings because he wanted to see what other attacks Guo Lao might unleash.
‘If they had truly clashed with lethal intent, it would be mutual destruction.’
Guo Lao could not keep pace with Neung Hyeong’s enlightenment.
But the difference in Internal Energy was far too vast. Guo Lao had consumed Spiritual Medicine potent enough to stir a blood storm across the Central Plains, and in teaching Dark Shadow, he was nearly recovering his original self.
But what of Neung Hyeong?
‘Not even thirty percent.’
These were not martial arts learned in a past life. His Internal Energy grew faster than anyone’s, but it could not compare to Guo Lao, who had consumed Spiritual Medicine.
Yet to see Neung Hyeong holding his own against Guo Lao—his enlightenment was undeniably extraordinary.
‘What about me?’
Moyong Bi pondered, and the answer came immediately.
‘I could subdue Neung Hyeong in a hundred moves, but against Guo Lao, I would be at a disadvantage.’
If he could defeat Neung Hyeong, could he not also defeat Guo Lao?
That was flawed reasoning.
This was a matter of compatibility. Guo Lao was a master who displayed greater strength when facing opponents excelling in practical combat.
Excelling in practical combat meant achieving balance between instinct and creativity—in other words, the ability to employ any technique at will—but against the Guard lineage, which boasted defenses as solid as fortress walls, one could face certain disadvantages.
‘Once my Internal Energy grows and my mastery of the Three Pure Formula rises another level, I could win. But for now, subduing Guo Lao would be difficult.’
Only a true match would tell, but the odds favored Guo Lao.
Moyong Bi suddenly felt a competitive spirit kindle within him.
‘My hands are itching.’
Moments later.
A sharp, resonant clash!
Both swords collided cleanly and snapped in half at the midpoint.
At the sound of the broken blades thudding into the earth, Dark Shadow flinched.
Guo Lao, who had been quietly gazing at his broken sword, calmly sheathed what remained.
“My skill is still far too lacking.”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
“Once I recover my former prowess, let us cross blades again.”
“Can you handle it? The gap will be far wider then.”
“The gap will widen because I will become stronger than you.”
It was neither jest nor arrogance.
Guo Lao was instilling within himself the will that he must become stronger. Had he not crossed swords with Neung Hyeong, he would have devoted himself solely to recovery, but through this duel, he had awakened to the truth that there would come a time when he truly must kill this demon king.
And that was precisely the role Moyong Bi had hoped Neung Hyeong would play.
Neung Hyeong spat and spoke.
“Try it if you can. But when that time comes, write your will first before you charge at me.”
“I did not charge at you. You charged at me.”
“Pride, at your age.”
A soft ring.
Neung Hyeong, having tossed his sword before Dark Shadow, surveyed his surroundings.
“What’s this? Come to watch the show? Shouldn’t you all be working instead of standing around gawking?”
Moyong Bi smiled wickedly as he spoke.
“Since it’s just two old men fighting over their pride, let’s drop this spectacle and get back to our duties.”
Though he meant it as a jest, no one laughed. The battle between these two masters had been far too extraordinary for levity.
In the end, their clash became a tremendous blessing for the Moyong Family.
Everyone who witnessed the true masters at war—even Moyong Su Jeong herself—realized that things could not continue as they were.
To grow stronger required more than mere effort; it demanded an epiphany transcendent enough to shatter one’s limits.
That revelation might come through greater dedication, a single pivotal battle, or wisdom gained from disciplines entirely unrelated to martial arts.
From that day forward, the Moyong Family began to transform with terrifying speed.
The family members’ duties and training schedules remained unchanged, yet each of them now possessed a distant but unmistakable goal.
With purpose defined, only the resolve to stake their lives upon it remained. The Moyong Family’s once peaceful and joyful atmosphere grew increasingly serene, yet burned with such intensity that the slightest touch would ignite an explosion.
This was the beginning of the genuine transformation Moyong Bi had longed for.
One month later.
“Are you here?”
“Who is it?”
“We have come from the Righteous Protection Squad at Martial Alliance Headquarters.”

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