Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 242

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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 242. Mud Puddle (6)
O Gyeong Ha fixed Moyong Bi with a terrifying glare.
“You’ve crossed the line, you wretch.”
If the Martial Alliance itself—and its Alliance Leader no less—had received someone as an honored guest, anyone would be wise to exercise caution.
Yet relationships were never one-sided. An honored guest carried their own responsibilities and obligations. Right now, Moyong Bi was repeatedly overstepping those boundaries.
Moyong Bi picked at his ear as he spoke.
“I haven’t even crossed the line I set for myself yet. Your capacity truly is small.”
“You insolent bastard!!”
“Besides, I may have business with you, but do you have any business with me?”
“What would someone like you possibly—!”
“You’ve reduced your own subordinate to this state.”
Moyong Bi gripped the Sealed Demon Divine Spear.
Baek Sang Ho’s face, which had been breathing heavily, grew increasingly pale.
“I had my reasons, but at the very least, as the leader, you should handle this matter appropriately. Isn’t that how things should be?”
“…?!”
“Or are you running away because there’s nothing more to gain, even abandoning your ruined subordinate?”
It was hardly a fitting remark from the very person who had ruined that subordinate, yet O Gyeong Ha’s attitude was far from normal either.
Only then did O Gyeong Ha realize his mistake, and he glanced anxiously at the Warriors.
‘…!’
The Warriors’ eyes held an ominous light.
Some looked disappointed, others melancholy. Some burned with rage, while others wore bitter smiles.
O Gyeong Ha was flustered, and simultaneously enraged.
“How dare these wretches—!”
The words burst out in a surge of anger, but he couldn’t bring himself to finish.
No matter how subordinate they were, he wasn’t without intuition. He wasn’t foolish enough not to understand that if he merely asserted his authority in this moment, the Warriors’ loyalty would plummet to the depths.
O Gyeong Ha forced himself to speak in a measured tone.
“Sub-Alliance Leader.”
Jung Hui lowered his head.
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“I understand your position. There were orders from above, no doubt. But as the Sub-Alliance Leader of the Ho Jeong Clan, you could have at least cautioned our honored guest to exercise restraint.”
Jung Hui was taken aback. The words didn’t quite fit the situation, yet they weren’t entirely wrong either.
“Since this person is an honored guest of our Alliance, I cannot say more on this matter. However, I will certainly lodge a formal complaint with my superiors regarding the excessive actions taken by this Moyong individual today.”
The chaotic atmosphere grew heavier and more oppressive.
To shift the mood with a single word, a single glance—such was a skill quite necessary for those in positions of authority. Judging by that display, O Gyeong Ha was not entirely without ability.
Of course, such tactics had no effect on Moyong Bi.
“Sub-Alliance Leader Jung.”
“Yes?”
“That’s precisely what they mean by a serpent’s tongue.”
The heavy atmosphere shattered completely with that single remark.
“Using another’s shortcomings to obscure important matters and cover up unfavorable circumstances and one’s own blunders—that’s what the professionals call muddying the waters.”
“…?”
“What he should be doing now is not questioning the Alliance Leader’s faults, but acknowledging his own mistakes and apologizing to the warriors, and moreover, reflecting on himself. Yet he suddenly latches onto the Alliance Leader like a dog with a bone.”
Everyone turned their startled gazes from Moyong Bi to O Gyeong Ha.
O Gyeong Ha’s face stiffened ever so slightly.
Shlick.
“Ugh!”
As the Sealed Demon Divine Spear withdrew, a pained groan escaped Baek Sang Ho’s lips.
Though it had pierced through his leg and embedded itself in the earth, neither blood nor dust clung to the Sealed Demon Divine Spear. The glossy black spear, gleaming with an otherworldly radiance, was threatening in its very essence.
“It is not because of the Righteous Protection Squad. He simply lacks the qualifications to lead any organization. How has the Righteous Protection Squad even been functioning all this time?”
There was no mockery or intent to provoke in my words.
I was genuinely curious, and my sincerity matched that curiosity.
O Gyeong Ha, trembling as he glared at me, spat out his words.
“It seems the Alliance’s honored guest believes he can insult anyone he pleases, but you will soon discover how grave a mistake that is.”
In that instant, my eyes blazed with fire.
“Seeking revenge?”
“What?”
“A warrior who has been insulted has but one path forward. Regardless of victory or defeat, proving oneself through force—is that not the way of warriors?”
At last, a smile graced my face.
The madness woven into that smile burned crimson.
“Draw your blade. I shall receive the grievance of a warrior who believes himself insulted.”
O Gyeong Ha found himself at a loss for words.
“What nonsense is this? Why would I…?”
“Why? Perhaps you intend to use the White Tiger Sword Sect or connections within the Alliance to crush me?”
“What, what did you just say?!”
“If that is not your intention, then settle your rage here and now. Why do you keep trying to escape? You hardly seem like such an amiable fellow.”
“…!”
“So that is what you are? A villain who, lacking true skill, uses politics and power to dispose of those who displease him—committing deeds unimaginable in the Orthodox Martial World without a shred of hesitation.”
“You insolent wretch!”
“Draw your sword. I said I would face you.”
My smile deepened.
As the smile intensified, the madness radiating from my eyes grew fiercer.
“What is it? Are you afraid?”
This crude provocation, when directed at a Martial Artist, succeeded nine times out of ten.
O Gyeong Ha’s face flushed crimson with rage.
At that moment, Muk Hyeong stepped forward.
“Please, let us all calm ourselves.”
“….”
“As you know, a leader of an organization bears great responsibility. If one draws their blade every time anger strikes, who would….”
“Even the Alliance Leader must draw when the time calls for it. That is the blade, and that is what it means to be a warrior.”
Everyone turned in shock to look at Jung Hui.
Jung Hui spoke calmly.
“And Squad Leader. The Alliance’s honored guest and the Alliance Leader are currently in dialogue. Unless you are the Alliance Leader’s spokesman, you should understand that interjecting yourself into their conversation would be discourteous to both parties.”
Muk Hyeong’s face flushed red.
With a single statement from Jung Hui, he had become someone who couldn’t distinguish where to step forward and where to hold back. It was a remark not easily endured by someone of Squad Leader rank.
O Gyeong Ha glared at Jung Hui as if he could kill him with his gaze.
Jung Hui stepped back one pace without concern. His posture made clear he was entirely entrusting this conversation to the two of them.
Moyong Bi, who had been observing O Gyeong Ha intently, slung the Spear of Sealed Demon across his shoulder.
“How disappointing.”
“…?”
“Rather than treating subordinates with affection, you regard them as mere outlets for your frustrations. Despite feeling insulted, you lack the courage to draw your sword. You prioritize only your background and connections. If such a man leads the Righteous Protection Squad, then the other units need not even be examined.”
Moyong Bi turned his body.
“Alliance Leader Jung, let us depart.”
“Have you seen enough?”
“I must have a word with the Alliance Leader. I need to ask exactly how he managed to reduce the Martial Alliance—the pride of the Orthodox Faction—to this state.”
In that instant, O Gyeong Ha and Muk Hyeong were taken aback.
That was right. Consumed by anger, they had momentarily forgotten: Moyong Bi was an honored guest of the Alliance. Moreover, he was someone capable of having a private audience with the Alliance Leader himself.
If word of today’s incident reached those above, few among those involved would emerge unscathed.
“Wait, just a moment!”
Moyong Bi turned his head.
O Gyeong Ha spoke through gritted teeth.
“You….”
Having opened his mouth, he found it difficult to continue.
Moyong Bi asked curtly.
“What about me?”
“….”
“Unbelievable.”
Moyong Bi turned again and walked toward the Main Gate of Jeong Ui Gak.
O Gyeong Ha cried out.
“Wait!”
Moyong Bi’s steps halted.
Facing his back, O Gyeong Ha spoke urgently.
“I am merely angry—I would never presume to lay hands on you by leveraging my prestige! Is it not excessively violent to paint me as such a person?!”
Jung Hui let out an involuntary sigh.
The sigh was loud enough that even the guards could hear it.
O Gyeong Ha continued.
“I was careless in my sensitivity! So let us conclude today’s matter here…!”
“Draw your sword.”
“…?!”
Moyong Bi turned again and strode toward O Gyeong Ha with long steps.
Though he took no particular combat stance, the atmosphere became truly murderous.
In truth, Moyong Bi’s eyes burned with rage.
O Gyeong Ha involuntarily stepped backward.
“The worst may remain unchanged, but at least I shall see whether you possess even the minimum conscience and shame befitting a warrior.”
Moyong Bi did not stop.
His pace was neither swift nor slow, yet to those watching, it appeared unnaturally fast.
In the blink of an eye, Moyong Bi had closed the distance to within three zhang of O Gyeong Ha.
As O Gyeong Ha attempted to retreat further, he felt his spine suddenly turn to ice.
A sharp Killing Intent directed solely at O Gyeong Ha—invisible to all others.
That Killing Intent offered no room for retreat, yet it conveyed absolute certainty: fail to counter it, and death would follow.
O Gyeong Ha moved on pure instinct.
Ching!
With a vicious Quick Draw, a Precious Sword shot toward Moyong Bi’s throat.
The sudden exchange shocked everyone present—none had expected O Gyeong Ha to strike first.
The Spear of Sealed Demons moved.
Clang!
A single, effortless swing sent O Gyeong Ha’s Sword flying to the side.
But that was not all. O Gyeong Ha’s arm, and his entire upper torso connected to it, twisted sideways as well.
O Gyeong Ha’s eyes widened as if they might split.
‘What—what is this?!’
The instant his Sword met the Spear shaft, his hand and entire body became rigid, as though forged from a single skeleton.
‘What is happening?’
Whoosh! Crack!
The Spear shaft, rising from below, struck O Gyeong Ha’s jaw with brutal force.
His head snapped backward violently, then returned to center.
O Gyeong Ha, his gaze vacant and fixed on empty air, collapsed forward.
Thud!
Crimson blood streamed from beside his fallen face.
Though his jaw remained intact, two broken teeth rolled among the flowing blood.
“….”
Stunned silence hung heavy in the air.
Moyong Bi, who had been gazing down at O Gyeong Ha’s back of head, turned his body.
“Alliance Leader, let us depart.”
“…Yes.”
* * *
The two emerged from Jeong Ui Gak.
Jung Hui, about to speak, fell silent in an instant.
Moyong Bi’s expression was far from ordinary.
His face brimmed with rage ready to explode at any moment, yet it was profoundly grave. Disappointment lingered there, and bitterness too, but that gravity ran so deep it seemed to weigh upon the very air itself.
Jung Hui, studying his face intently, spoke in a subdued voice.
“That was somewhat excessive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Regardless… he is the Alliance Leader of the Ho Jeong Clan.”
“Regardless, he was one who chose to be a Warrior.”
“….”
“Position is not what matters. What matters is what kind of man he is.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but it was excessive nonetheless. What I mean is….”
“I know. Even for a distinguished guest, this crosses the line. No matter how inadequate the opponent, one should not act so unreasonably.”
“Then, by causing such an incident, you must have had some purpose in mind?”
Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.
The murky heavens drained strength from my limbs merely by gazing upon them.
“In truth, that man is not what matters.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems the Martial Alliance has many like him. Any one of them would have sufficed.”
A bitter remark, yet one that provoked curiosity all the more.
“What do you mean?”
“I was not targeting the Ho Jeong Clan’s Alliance Leader—I was targeting the Alliance Leader himself.”
“…?!”
“Let us see just how boldly the Alliance Leader can act.”

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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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