Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 261

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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 261. The Great Demon Slayer (1)
It was Ha Sang Il who greeted Jeon Chil Sung upon his return to his residence.
“Do not be alarmed, but listen. All those I sent have been….”
“Eliminated, I presume. I already know.”
Ha Sang Il’s eyes widened.
“You learned of this separately? But what is this smell? Have you been drinking?”
Jeon Chil Sung smiled and recounted his conversation with Meng Ha Sung.
As Ha Sang Il listened to the account, his expression shifted several times.
“That cannot be… I never imagined the Alliance Leader would move so aggressively.”
“It was not aggression but decisive momentum, and he was not merely benevolent but rather prudent.”
Jeon Chil Sung, settled comfortably in his chair, bore the marks of both exhaustion and satisfaction upon his face.
“I have never thought him a crude fool who knows only how to swing his fists. I have always held him in considerable regard. Yet seeing things as they are now, I realize I myself understood him far less than I believed.”
Ha Sang Il nodded gravely.
“Without sufficient contact, one easily misunderstands another.”
“That is precisely why I feel we fell short. For people like us, we need the discernment to see others clearly even without such contact. Looking at it that way, we still have much to learn.”
“Still, it is fortunate.”
Ha Sang Il also released a sigh of relief and settled into his chair.
“I feared the White Faction and Black Faction might have caught wind of this, so I took the liberty of preparing military forces.”
“Well done. It proved unnecessary, but caution never hurts. We must remain vigilant going forward.”
“With the Alliance Leader openly offering his hand, there is some reassurance in that.”
“No.”
Jeon Chil Sung’s gaze shifted.
“We must be even more cautious.”
“What?”
“Joining hands with the Alliance Leader means we gain considerable strength, but it also means we can no longer act as freely as before.”
Ha Sang Il nodded in agreement.
“That is true. Yet the benefit of joining hands with the Alliance Leader far outweighs the cost.”
“Of course. Had it been otherwise, I would have vaguely deflected and returned. But….”
Jeon Chil Sung’s eyes darkened like the night sky.
‘There is something peculiar about this.’
During his conversation with Meng Ha Sung, countless thoughts had crossed his mind.
His emotions had wavered—relief at the favorable outcome, exhilaration at the prospect of standing at the pinnacle of Jianghu—yet now, returning and reflecting, something gnawed at him.
There was an aspect that subtly troubled his mind.
‘I cannot shake the feeling that I was manipulated.’
Meng Ha Sung had operated in deeper shadows than himself before finally revealing his hand.
The shock had been so profound that there was insufficient time to truly understand the man.
Of course, the circumstances were reasonable enough that he did not believe Meng Ha Sung had lied, but….
‘It feels as though I was played.’
It was the discomfort of one who had lost control of the situation.
As if enchanted into shaking hands. Normally, when not directing events, he would silently observe and divine various possibilities, yet in that moment, such a thing had been impossible.
It felt as though everything was unfolding exactly as Meng Ha Sung had orchestrated.
Jeon Chil Sung, who had been contemplating for a moment, soon shook his head.
‘I was merely startled by an unexpected turn of events. Moreover, the Alliance Leader’s temperament proved more cautious than I anticipated. And beneath it all, there was ambition.’
Jeon Chil Sung refused to succumb to arrogance. Yet he trusted the abilities he had cultivated through years of discipline.
‘He is no fool, but that does not mean I have been outmaneuvered. It is simply that I stood on unfamiliar ground—a board I had not laid myself.’
In that instant, a chill crept through his chest.
‘Had the Alliance Leader sought to hunt me on that board, it would have been quite perilous indeed.’
The more he considered this, the harder it became to harbor suspicion toward Meng Ha Sung.
Had he truly intended to destroy both him and the Blue Faction, he would never have revealed his true intentions in such a moment. Meng Ha Sung was undoubtedly a man of ambition, and it seemed he wished to achieve that ambition alongside them.
‘Regardless, it leaves a bitter taste.’
He had once played the fool on another’s board.
That experience had been gained from the current Elder Council Chairman.
“Elder Ha.”
“Speak freely.”
After deliberating once more, Jeon Chil Sung spoke with measured caution.
“Keep a closer watch on the Black Faction for the time being.”
Ha Sang Il’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“Do you believe the Alliance Leader is testing the waters?”
Conversation with Ha Sang Il was indeed comfortable.
“Indeed. From the circumstances, it is clear the Alliance Leader wishes to achieve his ambitions alongside us. His decision was made with deliberation. But as the saying goes, who can truly know the hearts of men?”
The thought had crossed his mind that they might be caught in a power struggle between the Blue and Black Factions.
“I understand your concerns, Vice Leader…”
“As I have said before, the ‘certainty’ I speak of does not mean absolute conviction. I never fully relinquish my doubts.”
“Yet did not the Alliance Leader ask you to take the lead in rooting out corrupt Elders?”
Yul Baek, whom Jong Mu Seok had mentioned, was a prime example.
Yul Baek of the White Faction was a man fraught with problems. Yet he was also skilled at concealing his own transgressions and misdeeds.
Jeon Chil Sung nodded.
“It would be foolish to doubt someone who grants such authority. Still, one can never be too careful. Keep a watchful eye on the Black Faction.”
Ha Sang Il did not regard Jeon Chil Sung as a fearful old man. It was precisely this caution that had allowed the Blue Faction to endure and flourish.
“Understood.”
“You have my gratitude.”
“However, if that is the case, would it not be wise to deploy more personnel to monitor the White Faction as well?”
Jeon Chil Sung let out a soft chuckle.
“When one must exert force, it is best not to scatter one’s strength. Even should the Alliance Leader harbor ulterior motives, the White Faction is certainly not the concern.”
The decision to target the White Faction first had already been made. The White Faction was merely an ingredient on the cutting board, not the blade itself.
“I shall dispatch the men at once.”
“Do so.”
As Ha Sang Il departed, Jeon Chil Sung drew a deep breath.
“…I had intended to gradually unleash the forces I have accumulated, yet it seems I need not reveal my hidden cards just yet.”
* * *
“Uh…”
I was taken aback.
“I understand the situation. But are you sure it’s alright to tell us this right now?”
Moyong Bi shrugged his shoulders.
“What does it matter?”
“Still, Elder Brother, you’ve become part of the Alliance Leader’s direct organization now, haven’t you? This is official business, so even family shouldn’t be told about it.”
“It’s fine. I already have the Alliance Leader’s permission.”
“No, it’s not about permission or not…”
At that moment, Jin Gwang spoke.
“I understand why Young Master told us this.”
The two of us looked at him.
Seriousness settled across Jin Gwang’s face.
“The perception of the Moyong Family remains negative. I don’t know how things are in Wuhan or Hubei, but there are still many who despise the Main Family House as the clan of traitors and swindlers.”
It wasn’t pleasant to hear, but it was also the reality.
“The Martial Alliance is no different. From what I heard from Young Master, the Elders and others don’t openly mock Young Master before his face only thanks to the Alliance Leader.”
Moyong Bi smiled.
“Quite excellent judgment, wouldn’t you say?”
“Thank you.”
“Continue.”
“Currently, Young Master is undertaking great matters alongside the Alliance Leader. In the process, his martial prowess has been evaluated as surpassing the Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes, and he even had one of the Martial Alliance’s Elders imprisoned in the Law Enforcement Hall. This rumor will soon spread throughout All Under Heaven.”
It was hard for it not to spread. Being ‘that’ Moyong Clan while surpassing the current era’s greatest rising stars, and young at that, he had even touched the Elder Council—that omnipotent power structure.
If he had failed, perhaps it would be different, but he truly did imprison an Elder in the Law Enforcement Hall.
Whether believed or not, interest in Moyong Bi would surge terrifyingly.
“Perhaps Young Master will face various pressures. I believe there will truly be many who try to pick fights without reason.”
They were people who had lived such lives for a long time already. Long experience made one sensitive to the gazes of those around, and Jin Gwang’s prediction had a high probability of becoming reality.
“Still, they won’t see it through to the end. But I and the Youngest Miss are different.”
Moyong Bi nodded.
“You saw it correctly. People will try to touch me, but there’s a limit to that too. Unless I expand the game myself.”
“I believe so.”
“Of course, they’re more likely to target Su Hyang and you than me. So I’m telling you the current situation without reservation.”
I sighed.
“Relationships are truly difficult.”
“In the Martial World, this is basic. Orthodox Sects and Chivalrous Justice—they shout themselves hoarse about such things, but the ‘real’ ones are only a handful. Those who live on the blade’s edge feel more affinity for jealousy and hatred than respect and consideration.”
“I understand what you’re saying. You’re telling me to prepare myself somehow, right?”
“Prepare your mind well, but truthfully, that’s not the end of it.”
Moyong Bi took out a token from his bosom.
On the dark iron token, a hawk was intricately engraved, as if it would soar toward the heavens at any moment.
“What is this?”
“It is called the Black Hawk Token.”
“The Black Hawk Token?”
“An iron badge symbolizing affiliation with the Intelligence Division under the Military Affairs Department.”
The two of them were startled.
“What? Elder Brother, so you have two positions?”
Moyong Bi spoke flatly.
“Does that make sense? Of course it’s not impossible, but how long has it been since you obtained the position of Tambi Ryeong-ju?”
“Then?”
“Su Hyang will be joining the secret Intelligence Division under the Military Affairs Department starting today.”
Moyong Su Hyang’s mouth fell open.
“Me, me?!”
“Of course, you won’t actually have to work there or learn anything. This is purely a shield.”
Moyong Su Hyang let out an exclamation.
“So if the worst moment comes, I should reveal that I’m affiliated with the Military Affairs Department?”
“Exactly. The Alliance Leader, of course, and the Commander-in-Chief were both willing to grant it.”
To do this much for a member of a single family was truly something to be grateful for. If this fact were revealed, the political pressure that Meng Ha Sung and Gong Sun Baek would face would be considerable.
“A weapon that cannot be used carelessly?”
“That’s right.”
“But when the moment comes to use it, I shouldn’t hesitate, right?”
“Impressive. You’re truly my younger sister—your intuition is sharp.”
Moyong Su Hyang’s face was filled with excitement.
“How strange… until last year, I was just struggling along, and now I’m joining the Martial Alliance’s Military Affairs Department.”
When I think about it that way, life truly is unknowable.
“Squad Leader Jin is Su Hyang’s personal bodyguard, so he’s both affiliated with the Military Affairs Department and not.”
Jin Gwang’s eyes sparkled.
“That provides considerable freedom.”
Moyong Bi genuinely marveled.
“I’ve felt this for a while now, but Squad Leader Jin, your intuition is truly extraordinary. Why have you been wasting such excellent judgment?”
“You’re too kind.”
“I mean it.”
When I think about it, he’s a truly remarkable person. With that excellent intuition, he continued to trust the Great Grand Nephew, who was the original owner of this body, to the very end.
‘That must mean his loyalty was that profound.’
I felt newly grateful toward Jin Gwang.
Moyong Su Hyang rose from her seat with a smile.
“My heart is racing. I’m not in the mood for alcohol—should we spar for the first time in a while?”
“I was just about to suggest that.”
“Great!”
“But your opponent won’t be me.”
“Huh? Then who? Uncle Jin Gwang?”
“No.”
Moyong Bi gazed out the window.
The night was growing dark, and it was well past midnight.
“If you happen to have an owl in mind.”

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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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