Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 268

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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 268. The Great Demon’s Immortality (8)
“Contact with Baekgol Gwi has been severed.”
“….”
“It appears he has been defeated.”
“Which number was the Baekgol Gwi I sent this time?”
“It was Number Eight.”
“Number Eight… wasn’t he a capable one?”
“With Jwa Sa Woo Ho accompanying him, it was a force capable of capturing even an Elder of the Martial Alliance. I would say it was a force capable of capturing even the Sect Leaders of the Six Major Sects, excluding Shaolin, Mu Dang, and Hwasan.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Sir?”
“You must include not only the Six Major Sects but also the Righteous Faction. You cannot underestimate the hidden strength of those who have reigned at the pinnacle of the Jianghu for so long.”
“Ah, of course that is true, but…”
“History is terrifying precisely because it means they have survived for a long time. Surviving for a long time is proof of strength. All the more so for the Six Major Sects. There is much talk of Sect Leader level and such, but the power they display in their darkest hour transcends the vague imagination of Martial Artists.”
“….”
“In any case, this has become troublesome. He took the White Bone Ghost Mask, you say?”
“Since it has not been found anywhere, it appears he certainly took it.”
“If all three are dead, then Number Eight must have certainly unsealed the mask as well.”
“We won’t be able to learn anything immediately.”
“Still, we must recover it. If recovery is impossible, we must destroy it.”
“That is…”
“And from now on, when conducting operations, assume the worst-case scenario and always send twice the force. As I’ve said before, you rely too much on standard specifications, which is why these mistakes occur.”
“…I apologize. I have no face to show.”
“What’s done is done. However, know that if such mistakes occur again, I will have no choice but to contact my superiors.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Moyong Bi now?”
“He is likely at his Residence or the Secret Law Court.”
“Ascertain his location precisely first, then send someone.”
“Whom should I send?”
“….”
“Sir, surely not…?”
“The White Bone Ghost Mask will lose its power before we even learn anything. But for the one-in-a-million chance, we must take measures as quickly as possible.”
“…I understand.”
“You’ve worked hard. By the way, is today that day?”
“It is.”
“Things are developing interestingly. Very well. You may go now.”
Having dismissed his subordinate, the man opened a book using the light streaming through the window as his lamp.
A moment later.
“Still… no matter how much I think about it, something feels off.”
Though he spoke thus, the reason he had sent only those three was abundantly clear. Perhaps he himself would have done the same.
By common sense, no matter how much stronger they were than the Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes, they would not be at the level of the Six Major Sects’ Sect Leaders. To be precise, unless they were truly genuine powerhouses of the Six Major Sects’ Sect Leader caliber, all three being defeated made no sense.
Had he been unable to withstand it, at the very least escape would have been possible.
“In other words, he was overwhelmed so completely that the man couldn’t even conceive of fleeing.”
Viewed simply, Moyong Bi’s martial prowess could reasonably be considered on par with a genuine Six Major Sects Sect Leader.
“Is such a thing even possible? No matter how much I investigate, that man’s body is far too deteriorated.”
The world occasionally produces geniuses who transcend common sense by vast measures.
Even accounting for that, Moyong Bi was beyond classification. At that level, he wasn’t a genius at all—he was simply a walking calamity itself.
At least, judging by talent alone, that was the case.
And the man could not imagine that such talent would emerge in a world, no matter how irrational it might be.
“It must be one of two things.”
Either there was a hidden helper he couldn’t perceive.
“…Or perhaps he was summoned.”
To learn the truth, meeting him directly would be fastest.
But the timing was not yet right. He was far more cautious than the subordinate who had blundered this time, and he believed that very caution was the greatest reason he had survived safely until now.
“Let’s take our time. There’s no shortage of time anyway.”
* * *
“….”
After staring at the mask for a long while, Gu Wol tilted his head.
“This is no ordinary material.”
“Indeed.”
Gu Wol examined the mask once more.
“It would be difficult to shatter under normal circumstances. Unless one is a master who knows how to properly wield Energy Release, even scratching it would be challenging.”
“I share that assessment.”
“If the one wearing this mask were also a master whose garments conduct Qi, the mask’s durability would transcend imagination.”
“Yes.”
“No matter how I consider it, I’ve never seen such a material. It’s not iron, nor is it hundreds of layers of paper or cloth stacked together… Truly mysterious.”
Moyong Bi nodded.
“I am curious about the manufacturing process, but that’s not the real problem.”
“Right.”
Gu Wol rested his chin on his hand.
“The Aura itself changed as bizarre patterns emerged on the mask?”
Gu Wol did not dismiss Moyong Bi’s words as a jest.
In this world, events transcending the common sense of ordinary people occur regularly. When legendary creatures from tales passed down as myth and legend appear in the world, there’s no reason a single object like this shouldn’t exist.
“I cannot say for certain yet, but if what you say is true, this mask might be a type of shamanic artifact.”
“Is there somewhere to inquire about it?”
“There is. If necessary, you could even ask the Alliance Leader directly.”
The implication was clear—why show this to him instead of reporting directly to the Alliance Leader?
“In any case, my superior is the Vice Alliance Leader.”
“Am I only your superior when needed?”
“As you said, if we’re going to consider necessity, I would have simply gone to the Alliance Leader.”
“You certainly don’t hold back your words.”
Gu Wol rose from his seat.
“I’ll look into it. Regardless of what happened, attempting to assassinate the Tambi Ryeong-ju of the Secret Law Court is not something we can simply overlook.”
“There is one more thing I must tell you.”
“Be cautious.”
“Pardon?”
“What? Were you not about to tell me to be careful?”
Moyong Bi, whose eyes had been blinking, let out a soft laugh.
“Your intuition is truly remarkable.”
“Why would I need to sharpen my senses for something so obvious?”
No matter how one looked at it, this was an extraordinary object.
Naturally, not just anyone could use such a thing, and the one who sent the masked assassin might attempt to retrieve it.
“I still don’t know your character well, but at least you don’t seem like the type to entrust your own affairs to others. Yet you showed this to me, not even the Alliance Leader—doesn’t that mean you or the Alliance Leader have something to do?”
In other words, by transferring the mask to Gu Wol, they had arranged to evade any potential hostile approach.
“Your intuition is truly remarkable.”
“As it happens, I had nothing pressing to do anyway. I’ll investigate this. Of course, after reporting to the Alliance Leader first.”
“Then I shall trust you with it.”
As Gu Wol nodded, Moyong Bi bowed respectfully and moved to leave the room.
At that moment, Gu Wol spoke.
“There’s something you haven’t told me.”
“Yes?”
“It hasn’t been long, but you’ve been so busy that you haven’t even introduced me to the people of the Secret Law Court, have you?”
“You said there weren’t many people anyway, didn’t you?”
“Even if there are few, they’ve become family—shouldn’t I at least be introduced?”
“Of course, that’s not what I meant.”
“When the time comes, I’ll show you—so drop that discourteous attitude.”
“Am I not your superior?”
“Since when do superiors get to be rude?”
“You’ve left me with nothing to say.”
“Now go on.”
Moyong Bi, smiling and bowing his head, left the room.
Alone once more, Gu Wol examined the mask again.
‘This is certainly a material I’ve never seen before. And yet….’
For some reason, he felt as though he had a memory connected to this mask.
But he couldn’t recall what it was.
“I should report this first. Truly, an uncommon fellow.”
Moyong Bi, departing from the Secret Law Court, headed toward the Law Enforcement Hall.
“You’ve arrived.”
“How is the prisoner?”
Young Ho Gyeong shook his head.
“Ever since Elder Jeon Chil Sung visited, he has remained completely silent.”
Moyong Bi’s lips twitched slightly.
“He must be quite frustrated, given that temperament of his.”
“It seems he will expose Yul Baek’s misconduct today.”
Young Ho Gyeong, unaware of the hidden transaction between Meng Ha Sung and Jeon Chil Sung.
Yet he sensed that something would unfold today. His intuition had never been poor, regardless of his nature.
‘Perhaps it was thanks to this sensitivity that I’ve managed to survive this long.’
Moreover, perhaps it was this very sensitivity that allowed me to make the right decision at last.
“Tambi Ryeong-ju.”
“Speak, sir.”
“Is there no further counsel you might offer me?”
Moyong Bi offered a bitter smile.
“What counsel could I offer to one who has already decided their course of action?”
“And yet, somehow….”
Young Ho Gyeong could not find the words to continue.
Truth be told, he felt some embarrassment. No matter his position as Tambi Ryeong-ju, nor the terrible deeds he had orchestrated these past days, it was not easy to ask such things of a junior.
Yet my current circumstances took precedence over shame.
“I felt that you, of all people, might counsel me on what choice to make when I find myself torn between righteousness and its opposite.”
It was an honest confession.
Having spoken despite his shame, Young Ho Gyeong deserved respect for that alone.
“Do not be startled, no matter what unfolds.”
“That much….”
“If that is insufficient, then let me speak thus.”
Moyong Bi’s gaze grew grave.
“Whatever transpires, fulfill your duty as the Law Enforcement Hall Leader.”
“Fulfill my duty?”
“What is the duty of the Law Enforcement Hall Leader?”
“To apprehend criminals, or those suspected of crime. Furthermore, to investigate such persons and lay bare the truth with absolute clarity.”
“Precisely. Moreover, the Law Enforcement Hall Leader is one who judges the severity of transgressions and adjusts the appropriate punishment.”
“….”
“Do not concern yourself with appearances. Simply perform what must be done from your position. I am doing the same.”
Young Ho Gyeong offered a bitter smile.
“To be honest, properly executing the duties assigned to one’s position is itself a difficult task.”
“I merely wish to offer you a standard by which you might remain true to yourself when confusion clouds your judgment. That standard lies in your very title, does it not?”
“….”
“At least for now, place your responsibilities above your survival.”
Young Ho Gyeong nodded.
“I understand.”
It was then.
‘…?!’
Moyong Bi’s eyes flashed with sudden awareness.
‘What kind of Aura is this?’
It was not deliberately concealed, yet neither was it hidden away.
Moyong Bi turned his body slowly.
Two old men were approaching from a distance.
One of them had a frame and musculature that belied his age, broad and powerful. Across his back hung a sword so enormous it would make one’s jaw drop, yet it suited his massive build perfectly.
And the other?
“We meet again like this.”
His voice was deep and resonant, truly pleasant to hear.
“I had always wanted to arrange a proper meeting, yet I never expected we would encounter each other in such a manner. It seems the connection between us is no ordinary fate.”
He spoke with a smile, though there was no mirth in his expression.
‘Yi Ja Gyun.’
The appearance of Yi Ja Gyun, the current Elder Council Chairman and renowned as one of the greatest masters of this era.
Moyong Bi clasped his fist in salute.
“I pay my respects to the Elder Council Chairman.”
“Is it because you are young? Or perhaps because you have only recently assumed the position of Tambi Ryeong-ju? You seem to be running about quite busily here and there.”
“The Alliance’s situation is hardly simple, is it? When one lacks understanding, one must rely on footwork.”
“Heh, lacking understanding, you say… yet your eyes are far too clear and profound for that.”
A smile settled upon Yi Ja Gyun’s face.
“But you appear somewhat weary. Have you been losing sleep?”
Moyong Bi’s expression grew cold.
‘This man sees too much.’

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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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