Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 22

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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 22. Even If You’re Strong, You Get Devoured (2)

 

In the end, Hwang In Hwa and Myeong escaped the plaza while receiving suspicious and angry glares.

 

On the contrary, Moyong Bi walked through the marketplace receiving enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

 

“So there was a reason you were asking around about that bastard Ga Hang’s residence yesterday! I respect you!”

 

“Please be sure to stop by our fabric shop next time! If there’s any merchandise you want, Young Master, I’ll definitely hide it away and give it to you at wholesale price!”

 

“Sob, please visit our Moon Fragrance House too! Just mention the name Gi Hyang! Even if we have regular customers, we’ll serve you first, Young Master!”

 

“Now that I look at you, our Young Master is thinner than I thought. Please come to our inn sometime. You need to eat some nutritious food.”

 

Crowd psychology is truly frightening.

 

When did they even speak to me first? Now that I single-handedly destroyed the Black Tiger Gang, they’re noisily shouting for me to come to their shops.

 

‘These people’s reactions tell the history of the Black Tiger Gang.’

 

There must be people directly involved, but there are probably many who suffered indirect damage too.

 

Among them, there are probably people who really didn’t suffer any damage at all. But even so, they were all rejoicing without exception.

 

It meant that the existence of the Black Tiger Gang was the worst thing for the common people.

 

‘This is a good start.’

 

From what I heard, it was certain that the Ten Sword Gate and Hong Clan Sword Family were classified as orthodox factions.

 

Naturally, if they were orthodox factions, they wouldn’t leave such trash alone. But they neglected them, and the people didn’t find this fact particularly strange.

 

There was only one reason.

 

‘They know they might get stoned for it.’

 

Just because common people are powerless doesn’t mean they’re brainless too. Rather, when it comes to survival instincts, even Murim Warriors are no match for common people.

 

They instinctively know that powerful people always form corrupt relationships with each other.

 

But they try hard to forget that fact. They even hypnotize themselves into thinking it couldn’t be true.

 

This was because they had learned over many years that if they raised questions, they might suffer consequences without anyone knowing.

 

‘That’s why it’s important to have these people on my back.’

 

I need to poke at the truth they’ve been forgetting.

 

Only when they realize the truth and start raising their voices does something called public opinion emerge. And when public opinion starts gaining power, even a small number of strong people can’t move recklessly.

 

In other words, the fastest way for a powerless force to build an impregnable fortress is to gain public opinion.

 

It was for my Great Grand Nephew’s sake, but one of the reasons I destroyed the Black Tiger Gang was to win these people’s hearts.

 

‘But this much isn’t enough.’

 

It’s just one Black Tiger Gang.

 

They were bastards who had been eating away at Wuhan Streets for many years, but the Dark Path won’t crumble just because these guys disappeared.

 

There’s always a Dark Path everywhere, and trash always emerges. The Ten Sword Gate and Hong Clan Sword Family could also make excuses that they were controlling them because they feared the streets would become more chaotic if they struck the Black Tiger Gang.

 

And in reality, that kind of moderate control was also a way to maintain streets and villages.

 

The Imperial Palace and Government Office leaving the martial world alone could be seen as similar in some sense.

 

‘Anyway, this flow isn’t bad. For at least a few days, or as long as a month, talk about the Black Tiger Gang will circulate in the marketplace.’

 

That’s why any incident needs someone who draws attention. The public isn’t interested in novels without protagonists.

 

‘Damn, this is embarrassing.’

 

…It’s just a bit shameful that it’s me.

 

‘What kind of protagonist am I for just destroying one den of thugs?’

 

Well, for the sake of my family clan, I could do far worse things than this. I could even strip naked and dance in a street full of people.

 

For the sake of the family!

 

“I’ll be taking my leave now. You all must have your livelihoods to attend to, and I feel sorry that this person’s actions have wasted your time.”

 

A proper spoonful of humility can turn even dying embers into a wildfire.

 

“How could that be!”

 

“Oh my, thanks to you, Young Master, the whole street has been cleaned up!”

 

“Sniff, you’ll surely be blessed.”

 

“If you want some nutritious food, please come by. For ten days, no, a whole month, I’ll take responsibility for our Young Master’s health.”

 

Receiving such passionate and heartfelt farewells from the crowd, Moyong Bi headed home.

 

Whoooosh.

 

Even though it was broad daylight, the wind was cold.

 

Come to think of it, it hadn’t even been a full day since he’d come back to life. Yet he’d already experienced so much.

 

“It’s cold.”

 

Walking alone on the mountain path, his insides gradually began to ache.

 

He’d been trying to forget, but the pain from his internal injuries was considerable.

 

“Cough cough! Damn it.”

 

Moyong Bi entered the small forest beside the mountain path and sat down, leaning against a tree.

 

Had the tension finally released? The back of his neck felt hot and he kept feeling like he was about to vomit.

 

If he threw up here, nine times out of ten it would be blood clots.

 

‘What a waste to throw it up. Swallow it, you fool.’

 

He couldn’t even focus on energy cultivation. For now, it was better to rest his body while regulating his breathing.

 

Moyong Bi closed his eyes and steadied his breathing for over an hour.

 

Clearing away stray thoughts and focusing on his breathing, his head gradually became clear.

 

…Though his burning insides remained the same.

 

“Phew.”

 

Even after an hour had passed, the day was still bright.

 

Perhaps because his head had cleared? A pile of things he needed to do came flooding to mind.

 

‘I’ve dealt with the Black Tiger Gang matter for certain, so now I really need to focus on the family.’

 

Including the wealth he’d taken from Ga Hang, over 170,000 nyang had come into his possession.

 

Compared to the Moyong Noble Family’s past wealth, it was pocket change, but at least for the ‘current’ Moyong Family, it was war funds that could last several years.

 

Though that would depend on what kind of business they undertook.

 

‘As expected, the first thing to resolve is martial arts.’

 

Unless the family members became stronger, each day would be like a candle before a typhoon.

 

But didn’t he have public opinion on his side?

 

‘I said at least ten days, but even that could fade at any time.’

 

When it burns, public sentiment blazes as if it could incinerate the heavens, but when it dies out, it cools bitterly with just a single breath of wind.

 

That’s how people’s hearts are. For now, they’d look up to him and applaud, saying a hero had appeared on the streets, but as time passed, it would quickly wither.

 

Especially if the sects holding power in Wuhan were keeping their eyes peeled.

 

‘They’ll praise me to my face but talk plenty behind my back.’

 

That’s what crowds are like.

 

Moyong Bi understood them. He thought it wasn’t because they were bad people, but because there was nothing they could do in reality.

 

Therefore, he understood them but did not trust them.

 

The only things he could trust were his family and the judgment he had built up until now.

 

‘Martial Arts… To put it bluntly, I can make up any reason somehow. If I can just get the transmission, I’ll be able to breathe easier.’

 

Moyong Su Jeong’s face came to mind.

 

A somewhat gaunt but beautiful face, yet one that showed an unbreakable strength of will.

 

‘I suppose it won’t work after all?’

 

She was the type who said she couldn’t use the money taken from Ga Hang because it felt dirty.

 

Her heart was truly beautiful, but even that good heart would have been difficult to protect without strength of will.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

His mind, which had been cleared through meditation, began to get tangled again.

 

‘Forget it, let’s go back for now.’

 

Before that, I need to do something about my body. If I go back with this complexion, Su Jeong will worry again.

 

So Moyong Bi cultivated his energy for another hour before heading Home.

 

The internal injuries remained, but his steps felt light nonetheless.

 

* * *

 

“Huh.”

 

Yang Hyo Myeong’s face was full of amazement as he withdrew the Acupuncture Needles.

 

“No matter how I look at it, it’s amazing. Can the Acting Family Head feel it too?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Dense Yang Energy is settled in the major meridian points of the upper body. Each one is very small but has incredibly high density.”

 

“As I thought.”

 

“Especially around the heart and lungs, it’s remarkable. Severed meridians are particularly affected by breathing, so the heart and lungs often weaken. The Acting Family Head would know this better than I.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“With such pure energy helping maintain warm and peaceful breathing, you won’t have to suffer from severed meridian syndrome for the next two years. With proper care, this energy could easily last three years.”

 

It was a situation worthy of applause, but Moyong Su Jeong’s face was not bright.

 

Yang Hyo Myeong pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

 

“I heard the Grand Young Master treated you.”

 

“…That’s correct.”

 

“I caught a glimpse of the Grand Young Master’s complexion this morning. He looked a bit tired, but not bad.”

 

“That’s how it appeared to you, Doctor?”

 

“It did. Of course, I didn’t perform Pulse Diagnosis on him.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong sighed.

 

Yang Hyo Myeong’s face became serious.

 

“As you already suspect, to implant this level of Yang Energy, one must either be born with a constitution where Yang Energy is dominant and have accumulated power for a long time, or possess Extreme Yang Internal Power.”

 

“…”

 

“If it’s neither of those… then he must have extracted and implanted his life force.”

 

“My Younger Brother has neither a constitution where Yang Energy is dominant, nor has he ever cultivated Extreme Yang Internal Energy.”

 

“I know that too.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong gritted her teeth.

 

There were many things she wanted to say, but she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.

 

Yang Hyo Myeong, who had been quietly watching her, organized his needle case and spoke.

 

“In any case, your Younger Brother’s achievement is remarkable. If he can perform Body-Separated Energy Transmission at not even twenty years of age, his Energy Manipulation Arts have surpassed the late-stage expert level.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong looked at Yang Hyo Myeong with troubled eyes.

 

Was he trying to reassure her? Or was he genuinely amazed? His face was filled only with wonder toward Moyong Bi.

 

‘Bi Ah.’

 

Come to think of it, it really was an amazing feat.

 

Moyong Bi wasn’t lacking in Martial Arts talent, but he still couldn’t match herself who benefited from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians or Moyong Su Hyang who was a natural martial prodigy.

 

Such a Younger Brother had transferred Internal Energy into another person’s body?

 

Moreover, Internal Energy Transfer requires deep understanding of the human body and meridian pathways.

 

‘How on earth did this happen?’

 

Yang Hyo Myeong stood up from his seat.

 

“Since I’m already here, I should examine your Younger Brother’s body before I go.”

 

“Ah, I would be grateful if you would do that.”

 

“Grateful for what? It’s naturally what I should do.”

 

“But Bi Ah isn’t Home right now… I heard he’ll return before evening.”

 

“I can wait. I have plenty of time.”

 

Seeing Yang Hyo Myeong smile, Moyong Su Jeong felt an inexplicable uneasiness.

 

It had been like this from before. Yang Hyo Myeong was certainly an excellent physician and one of the most distinguished teachers at Myeongjin Hall. He had even established himself near the Family Estate to serve as her personal physician.

 

He was truly someone to be grateful for, but occasionally when she looked at him, she sometimes felt an inexplicable eeriness.

 

‘It must be because my body has weakened.’

 

When the body weakens, the mind and heart also weaken. It must be because she still hadn’t shed her resentment toward the world.

 

“Never mind the Grand Young Master, worry about your own body first. You mustn’t overexert yourself just because you feel fine right now.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Just then.

 

“Acting Family Head.”

 

Seok Woong’s voice was heard from outside the door.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Young Master has arrived.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong sprang to her feet.

 

“Please tell him to come in.”

 

A moment later.

 

The door opened and Moyong Bi entered.

 

Moyong Bi, who entered with a dignified smile, spotted Yang Hyo Myeong.

 

‘The physician I saw this morning.’

 

After the Body-Separated Energy Transmission, his stomach felt like it was turning inside out, so he went to his Personal Quarters without even greeting him. He should express his gratitude now.

 

“Thank you for taking good care of Elder Sister.”

 

“Thank you for what? You did everything.”

 

“No, I didn’t.”

 

Moyong Bi raised his head and looked at Yang Hyo Myeong.

 

In that instant, the look in Moyong Bi’s eyes changed.

 

‘Hm?’

 

What’s with this guy?

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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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