Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 253

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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 253. Cracks (3)
The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, Moyong Su Hyang sprang to her feet.
“Where have you been? Just now showing up?”
“I’ve been somewhere worthwhile.”
“Worthwhile my foot. You went out to work because of that Tambi Ryeong-ju position or whatever it is, didn’t you?”
“Well, I suppose I killed two birds with one stone.”
A shadow crossed Moyong Su Hyang’s face.
“What’s that blood on your sleeve? Are you hurt?”
“Ah, this?”
I chuckled and waved my sleeve.
“Someone’s hurt, but it wasn’t me.”
“…Did you go thrash some old man again?”
“There is such an old fellow. A peculiar human whose anger management is entirely beyond his control.”
“So the rumors were true.”
“Hmm?”
Tension settled over Moyong Su Hyang’s shadowed face.
“I’ve heard rumors that a Martial Alliance Elder was confined to the Law Enforcement Hall by someone who appeared out of nowhere.”
I was genuinely surprised.
“News travels fast to your ears, doesn’t it?”
“It’s already spread among the laborers coming and going.”
“I see.”
“Didn’t you always say to keep your ears open to people?”
I laughed and patted her shoulder.
“You haven’t forgotten what you learned and you’re putting it to good use. That’s right—always listen to what’s happening around you. Especially sensitive rumors tend to circulate more among people unrelated to the matter at hand.”
“So… Elder Brother, you’re the one who sent the Martial Alliance Elder to the Law Enforcement Hall?”
“Something like that.”
I wasn’t making a fuss about it like I used to.
Moyong Su Hyang was simply worried. The Martial Alliance was far too formidable an organization for this to be resolved through mere theatrics.
“Will you be alright? Even if the Alliance Leader has your back…”
“How did you know the Alliance Leader has my back?”
“Well, it’s obvious. No matter how capable Elder Brother is, you wouldn’t recklessly charge into something you can’t handle, would you?”
My eyes gleamed.
“You’ve thought that far ahead?”
“That far? I’ve seen enough of you by now—it’s easy to read.”
She spoke casually, but this deductive ability was not to be underestimated.
Only those who truly understand a person can read intention in the actions of strangers they’ve never met.
Right now, Moyong Su Hyang had read me well. Her worry was unavoidable and she didn’t know the reasons, but at least she didn’t see me as someone who would commit senseless atrocities.
‘This isn’t something easily built through experience.’
Especially not from someone with virtually no experience to speak of.
‘If I cultivate this properly, she’ll become someone truly formidable.’
I don’t aspire to become some great person of power, but at the very least, I want to be capable of protecting myself and my people against any threat that comes our way.
“You must have been bored without me. Were you training?”
“What else is there to do?”
“Since I have time, let me see your Martial Arts. Oh, speaking of which, where is Jin Gwang?”
“He should be training in the Back Garden.”
“Good. I’ll observe both of you while I’m at it.”
Moyong Su Hyang shook her head.
“I appreciate it, but now isn’t the time for you to watch our Martial Arts.”
“Huh?”
“This.”
Moyong Su Hyang handed over a carefully folded Letter.
Moyong Bi’s eyes gleamed as he received and read the Letter.
“When did you receive this?”
“This morning.”
“I see.”
“He said I could read it, so I did. I didn’t sense any strange intentions from him.”
She seemed quite perceptive in making such distinctions.
Moyong Bi spoke with a smile.
“Since you’re going anyway, let’s go together.”
“Eh? Go… together?”
“Won’t you be bored? Call Jin Gwang too.”
“Is that alright? The person he wanted to see was Elder Brother, wasn’t it?”
“He wants to see the Eldest Son of the Moyong Family, not the Tambi Ryeong-ju. So we should go together.”
Moyong Su Hyang smiled.
“Alright, rest for a moment.”
Moyong Bi watched as Moyong Su Hyang hurried out to call Jin Gwang, then turned his gaze back to the Letter.
“…I never thought I’d see him this soon.”
* * *
Jegal Dan set down his wine cup and gazed out the window.
“So it’s summer now.”
Yet the breeze remained quite refreshing.
Jegal Dan’s gaze suddenly shifted to several Documents placed beside his wine cup.
After quietly observing the Documents, he began reading them with renewed seriousness.
‘…Indeed.’
These Documents were filled with information about the Tambi Ryeong-ju of the Secret Law Court.
‘How detailed. Perhaps because it was written directly by the Alliance Leader’s Faction.’
Thanks to this, it was recorded in meticulous detail how Moyong Bi had moved as Tambi Ryeong-ju, and even what he had done within the Law Enforcement Hall.
Jegal Dan inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘Remarkable momentum. But what made such momentum possible was thorough preparation.’
Looking at the contents alone, it seemed like something anyone with a modicum of magnanimity could accomplish.
But Jegal Dan knew it wasn’t something one could accomplish with mere magnanimity.
‘His intuition is extraordinarily sharp. He reads people well. He assessed the Alliance Leader’s character and disposition during their meeting, and only then did he act.’
Moreover, his strikes and retreats were executed without a single wasted motion.
He handled Jong Mu Seok harshly, yet never crossed that critical line.
That line was remarkably subtle—a level that could provoke the Elder Council’s anger, yet if they did grow angry, only the Elder Council would appear foolish.
Furthermore, if one examined whether he had proceeded according to principle and propriety, the answer was no.
‘He moves freely between the righteous path and unconventional methods. It’s hard to believe all this transpired in merely two days.’
If he truly had read every surrounding circumstance and proceeded with meticulous calculation, then the term “divine calculation” would not be an exaggeration.
‘His skill in handling Jong Mu Seok is too exceptional to attribute to mere ignorance. He must have read the man’s character. The fact that he touched the disciple first, not the master himself, reveals that Moyong Bi was attempting to truly understand Jong Mu Seok.’
Jegal Dan let out an exclamation of admiration.
‘With such ability, it’s no wonder he was able to save the Main Family.’
Of course, the greatest factor was raw force. No matter how sharp one’s intuition or brilliant one’s mind, without power, he could never have dispatched the Demon People with such lightning speed.
In other words, Moyong Bi clearly understood when to employ intellect and when to employ force.
‘A person like this….’
It wasn’t merely because he was the Family’s benefactor.
‘Wouldn’t he be worth risking one’s life alongside?’
Jegal Dan did not regard Moyong Bi as merely a Late-Stage Expert of twenty-three years.
Though he was indeed their savior, the displays he had shown were too remarkable. To speak bluntly, even No Gang Ho—a seasoned veteran of the Jianghu with decades of experience—would be questionable in his ability to handle matters with such refreshing decisiveness.
‘If he can maintain and exercise this ability even on a grander stage….’
Jegal Dan’s eyes gleamed sharply.
‘Moyong Bi will surely stand as a towering figure of the Jianghu. And not in the distant future.’
Moyong Bi, and the Moyong Family.
‘Moyong… Moyong….’
Lost in contemplation, Jegal Dan raised his wine cup once more.
“What does the past matter? When one’s life has been saved by a Murderer, gratitude is the only proper sentiment a recipient of such grace can hold.”
Even after drinking several cups, no drunkenness clouded his mind.
Turning his gaze back to the window, he found that despite the summer season, the world outside seemed strangely desolate, like autumn.
‘My Lady.’
His heart trembled as emotion surged within him.
‘Bear with me just a while longer. I shall incinerate every demon that exists upon this earth and exact your vengeance.’
His companion of three lifetimes—virtuous, beautiful, and wise.
The fact that he could not spend his remaining years with someone who had loved the Family Members even more than he, the Family Head himself, struck him anew with piercing sorrow.
His eyes grew moist, yet Jegal Dan ultimately held back his tears.
This was not the time to surrender to grief and weep, but rather to forge ahead with cold rage and burning reason.
How much time had passed thus?
“Family Head.”
“What is it?”
“A guest has arrived.”
Jegal Dan’s eyes flashed with a keen edge.
“Show them in.”
After a moment, the door opened and three people entered.
Jegal Dan knelt on the spot.
“I greet the Benefactor.”
Moyong Bi, startled by the sudden gesture, quickly grabbed his arm.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“Had it not been for you, the Jegal Family would have vanished into the shadows of history. I should have offered my gratitude earlier, but this foolish man lacked the presence of mind. I apologize for expressing my gratitude only now.”
“Please, it’s uncomfortable. Stand up.”
As Jegal Dan slowly rose to his feet, his face appeared haggard, yet there was a peculiar steadfastness visible beneath the weariness.
Moyong Bi spoke with a smile.
“We haven’t even exchanged proper greetings, and you’re already being so intense.”
“Though I would gladly offer everything of the Main Family House to you without reservation, as the master of this clan, I find it difficult to show greater deference than this. I hope you understand.”
“I understand, so please treat me as you would a junior. If you continue like this, it will truly make me uncomfortable.”
Moyong Su Hyang and Jin Gwang were greatly flustered.
The Family Head of the Jegal Family, one of the Six Great Clans renowned throughout All Under Heaven, had suddenly prostrated himself—it was impossible to remain composed in such a situation.
Jegal Dan spoke with a smile.
“If it makes you uncomfortable, then we shall do as you wish. However, do not think that my gratitude toward you has diminished simply because my manner of speech remains as it is.”
“That gratitude can diminish a bit, if you don’t mind.”
Moyong Bi gestured toward the two people.
“This is my younger sister, Su Hyang, and the rigid warrior beside her is the leader of the Main Family House’s military organization.”
The two immediately bowed their heads.
“Su Hyang of the Moyong Family greets the Jegal Family Head.”
“Jin Gwang, Fire Sword Unit Leader of the Moyong Family. It is an honor to meet the Jegal Family Head.”
Jegal Dan shook his head.
“If both of you are people of Moyong, then you are equally my benefactors. Excessive courtesy only embarrasses me, so I sincerely hope you will not be so formal.”
Moyong Su Hyang, lifting her head, glanced sideways at Moyong Bi.
‘He certainly made quite a splash, didn’t he.’
She had heard that he had resolved the threat to the Jegal Family, but seeing the Family Head himself kneel and call him “Benefactor,” it appeared he had truly saved the entire clan.
She found herself thinking anew how remarkable he was.
“Well then, please have a seat.”
“Thank you, I shall take the liberty.”
Everyone sat in their chairs.
Jegal Dan bowed his head slightly.
“As your benefactor, I should have visited you in person to offer my respects, but circumstances have not permitted it. I sent a letter instead. I hope you understand.”
“Is this not the Martial Alliance? Even if it were not, it would be fine. I do not concern myself with such matters, so please do not worry.”
“Haha, I see.”
“How are your second son and daughter doing?”
Jegal Dan smiled.
“They speak of you often. Thanks to you, they are doing well.”
When he thought about it, it was thanks to his second son, whom he had scolded so harshly for not studying diligently, that the family had been saved. Had Moyong Bi not been acquainted with him, he would never have turned his attention toward the Jegal Family.
Thinking of such things, the workings of fate were truly mysterious.
Jegal Dan smiled as he thought of his children, but his expression soon hardened.
“I’d love nothing more than to drink through the night and share stories with you, but it seems both of us will be quite occupied, so shall we get straight to the matter at hand?”
“I agree. We can always drink another time.”
“Straightforward indeed. You live up to your reputation.”
Jegal Dan handed Moyong Bi the documents he had set aside.
“Read this.”
Moyong Bi’s eyes gleamed as he examined the documents.
“Is this an intelligence document from the Alliance Leader’s Faction?”
“Your intuition is sharp as always.”
“Only two organizations can document my every move so promptly.”
“Has the Alliance Leader mentioned anything about me?”
“He has.”
“Then I’ll speak plainly.”
Jegal Dan’s expression grew grave.
“If Moyong stands with the Alliance Leader, then the Jegal Clan will sever its ties with the Six Major Sects and submit beneath you.”

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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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