Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 50

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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 50. The Beginning of Revival (4)

 

In the end, Go Cheok and Baek Ryong Dae had no choice but to quietly return with the Hwang Father and Daughter.

 

As they crossed the market street, the crowd didn’t hurl any insults at them. They simply glared with eyes filled with anger and disgust.

 

Once the Ten Swords Gate forces disappeared, the crowd erupted in cheers again.

 

“Long live Young Master Murong!”

 

“Waaah!”

 

“That was so satisfying! Really!”

 

“It’s free. Nourishing food for free.”

 

“You like the Seven String Zither, right? Come to our pavilion today! I’ll play for you personally!”

 

“Actually, we have a few jars of secret recipe wine at our shop. Today you can get drunk and cause a ruckus, so please come. No, I’ll cause that ruckus myself!”

 

The crowd’s enthusiastic cheers continued.

 

Moyong Bi smiled bitterly and bowed his head to all of them before turning around.

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

The crowd’s cheers didn’t stop until they were far from the marketplace.

 

The group entered a small path.

 

“My ears are still ringing.”

 

“I was blocking my ears with internal energy from halfway through.”

 

Soft laughter escaped from Moyong Su Hyang’s lips.

 

Moyong Bi asked calmly.

 

“How was it?”

 

“What?”

 

“The crowd’s cheers.”

 

“How was what? It was incredibly exhilarating. You deliberately led Hwang Ji Hwa to the market street, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I was a bit worried though. It seemed like she had something to rely on.”

 

“If it had been truly dangerous, I would have run away as I said.”

 

“Honestly, I thought it was dangerous. But… I also felt like there wouldn’t be any need to run away.”

 

“Why?”

 

Moyong Su Hyang hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

 

“I don’t know. It was just a feeling.”

 

“A feeling.”

 

“But…”

 

Moyong Su Hyang started to speak but then closed her mouth, realizing what she was about to say.

 

However, she felt like it would be okay to say it. She didn’t think saying such things would make her look weak.

 

“It was a bit scary.”

 

“…”

 

“This whole situation worked out well partly thanks to those people, right?”

 

“It all worked out thanks to those people. As you said, I was waiting in the marketplace to receive their help.”

 

“You set up the stage?”

 

“For an actor to spread their wings, they need a stage. If the atmosphere hadn’t been like that, the provocation wouldn’t have been so easy either.”

 

“This is a bit different, but your talent for making people angry is terrifying.”

 

“Actually, I just listed facts. If you look closely, it’s more like they brought it upon themselves. I just waved the rope around saying it was here, but I didn’t really do much.”

 

It was no different from stabbing someone to death and then saying the opponent came and stabbed themselves.

 

Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.

Looking at the cloudless sky, he could faintly hear the mad voices of the crowd echoing.

 

 

I had never thought of it that way.

Moyong Su Hyang listened carefully to Moyong Bi’s words.

 

“But most people can’t do it. Do you know why?”

 

“….”

 

“Because opening their ears to them is bothersome.”

 

Why was that?

 

Why is that?

“Asking an inn owner about the neighborhood atmosphere these days isn’t difficult. Asking a fabric shop owner if it’s been hard to get fabric lately isn’t difficult either.”

Moyong Suhyang felt an inexplicable chill at those words.

“….”

“Asking the innkeeper about the neighborhood atmosphere these days isn’t difficult. Asking the fabric shop owner if it’s been hard to get cloth shipments lately isn’t difficult either.”

“Most people in power can’t do such things. No, they don’t do them. Because it’s bothersome.”

“Why is that bothersome?”

“Most people in power can’t do that kind of thing. No, they won’t do it. Because it’s a hassle.”

“To be precise, because at some point they started perceiving them as bothersome existences.”

“Why would that be a hassle?”

“…!”

“To be precise, it’s because at some point I came to perceive them as a nuisance.”

“Money? It comes from people. Justification? It comes from problems between people. Honor? Does it work in the animal world? No. It only works in the world where people live.”

Moyong Bi sighed.

 

 

 

 

“Once you start going downhill, it’s not easy to stop. Even when you know you shouldn’t, it’s hard to halt a rolling carriage. That’s what it means to be stuck in inertia.”

Moyong Su Hyang wanted to ask that.

 

“If you live just a little, just a very little more diligently, even if you can’t win the people’s hearts, at least you won’t live being cursed.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang forced a smile.

 

 

 

“That’s not for you to say, is it? You’ve been living your life causing every accident imaginable.”

In the sky that had been cloudless, a few scattered cloud fragments could now be seen.

 

 

In the sky that had been without a single cloud, a few scattered cloud fragments could now be seen.

“That’s why I want to live long enough that when I say things like this, people won’t take it as sarcasm.”

Something wells up from deep inside my chest.

Moyong Su Hyang looked at her elder brother with wavering eyes and clicked her tongue as she spoke.

 

“How ridiculous. I don’t believe you, you bastard.”

 

“You’re trying to act cool and composed for once, but do you really have to kill the mood like that?”

 

“The problem is you’re not cool even when you try to act cool. Ugh!”

 

Moyong Bi smiled.

 

“I’m scared too.”

 

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

 

“You said the crowds are scary, right? I feel the same way.”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

“Today we benefited from them, but depending on the situation, we could have faced their backlash. If the crowds had turned away from us when we had no power, what would have happened today?”

 

Just imagining it gave him chills.

 

“But that didn’t happen, did it?”

 

“Because Ten Swords Gate had accumulated sins.”

 

“…You mean that situation wouldn’t have been created if Ten Swords Gate had at least maintained basic decency.”

 

“You understand well. Han forms in the hearts of people who live under oppression. Nothing in this world is as frightening as han.”

 

“What if there’s no han?”

 

“It would depend on the situation. So just remember this one thing.”

 

Moyong Bi’s eyes gleamed.

 

“Everyone hides cruelty within themselves.”

 

“….”

 

“People who are fellow weaklings yet find pleasure in watching others suffer miserably, people who lived good lives but suddenly desire to see blood as if possessed. Jianghu is full of such people.”

 

Jin Gwang, who was following behind, silently nodded.

 

Moyong Bi continued speaking.

 

“Judge people well. Not for the Main Family’s sake, but for your own.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s more important than martial arts or money.”

 

These were words that struck the heart.

 

It was such precious teaching that he wondered if he would learn anything more important during the decades of life ahead.

 

“My words have been too lengthy. Well, you’ll figure it out as you experience the world.”

 

“If only you could speak properly.”

 

“Field experience is always more important than theory.”

 

“Speaking of which, how do you think Ten Swords Gate will respond? They won’t cause a ruckus trying to get revenge, will they?”

 

Actually, that part was the most worrying.

 

Moyong Bi shook his head.

 

“Far from revenge, they’ll be caught up in internal strife.”

 

“Internal strife?”

 

“Hong Clan Sword Family’s… what was it called?”

 

“Red Sword Third Unit of the Red Sword Corps! Try to remember it!”

 

“Right, Red Sword Third Unit. Those red sword wielders went to Ten Swords Gate, didn’t they?”

 

“We’re not certain whether they went or not, are we?”

 

At that moment, Yeon Pyeong spoke.

 

“It seems certain.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“They headed west from the end of the marketplace. When Young Master came to the marketplace, I saw them returning the way they had come.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang turned her eyes to look at her elder brother.

 

“So that’s how it is?”

 

“Even if they didn’t go to Ten Swords Gate, it doesn’t matter. With their sect leader crippled, public opinion ruined, their financial manager sick with worry, and even an elder missing, do you think Hong Clan Sword Family will just leave them alone?”

 

“…Ah?!”

 

“Right now Ten Swords Gate should be worrying about Hong Clan Sword Family, not our Main Family. They probably can’t handle it.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang finally burst out in admiration.

 

“You, your head really works well.”

 

“What do you mean ‘head’ to your elder brother, ‘head’.”

 

“Then what… is it over? Roughly speaking?”

 

“Over? What’s over.”

 

Moyong Bi laughed refreshingly.

 

“This is just the beginning.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong calmly welcomed back the returning group.

 

Though she must have been extremely worried inside, seeing her praise the group with an unwavering voice, she certainly seemed to have the proper attitude of a family head.

 

That day, the Moyong Family gathered together in the training ground for the first time in a long while to share alcohol and a meal.

 

Though it was an awkward gathering, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

The Moyong Family, which had been somewhat busy since morning, only regained its composure after the sun had set.

 

To be precise, it was solemnity.

 

All members of the Fire Sword Group stood guard in various places, their faces much more tense than usual.

 

And night fell.

 

When the hour of the dog arrived precisely, the Moyong sisters, Seok Woong, and Guo Lao gathered in front of the Ancestral Hall.

 

“What about Bi Ah?”

 

“He says he’ll be here soon.”

 

“I see.”

 

Moyong Su Hyang sighed and muttered.

 

“Old habits die hard, don’t they…”

 

“Su Hyang.”

 

“Elder Sister, this isn’t just anything, it’s an ancestral rite. He’s the same person who always skipped it before because he was drunk.”

 

Moyong Su Jeong remained unwavering.

 

“He’ll come soon.”

 

“…Tch.”

 

Some time passed.

 

Guo Lao spoke carefully.

 

“Shall we light the candles and incense first?”

 

“Yes, please do.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The door to the Ancestral Hall opened.

 

As the candles were lit, countless ancestral tablets became visible.

 

Moyong Su Jeong, kneeling at the very front, bowed her head. Then Moyong Su Hyang, Seok Woong, and Guo Lao also bowed their heads.

 

How much time had passed like this?

 

Whoooosh.

 

The sound of clothes fluttering in the wind could be heard.

 

Moyong Su Hyang turned her head to the side and widened her eyes.

 

‘What is that idiot doing!’

 

Moyong Bi had appeared. No, the blood relative who had become an idiot again had appeared.

 

His attire was completely different from usual.

 

He was wearing a splendid silk robe that he rarely wore, and it was so oversized that he looked like he was covered with a blanket. The shoulders didn’t fit, so even his fingertips weren’t visible.

 

“…I should smash his head.”

 

While Moyong Su Hyang was trembling with anger.

 

Moyong Bi passed by her and stood next to Moyong Su Jeong.

 

Moyong Su Jeong slowly raised her head and asked.

 

“You’re late.”

 

Moyong Bi looked at the incense burner without answering.

 

Moyong Su Jeong glimpsed unhideable sadness and deep despair on her younger brother’s face.

 

Her mouth opened involuntarily.

 

“Do you want to light some incense?”

 

“No.”

 

Moyong Bi took off his outer garment.

 

“Guo Lao.”

 

“Yes, Young Master.”

 

“Give me some fire.”

 

Guo Lao brought a torch.

 

Moyong Bi folded his outer garment neatly, placed it in front of the incense burner, and set it on fire.

 

Whoosh!

 

The outer garment was instantly engulfed in flames and began producing wisps of smoke.

 

Moyong Su Hyang finally cried out.

 

“What are you doing!”

 

“Young Miss.”

 

Guo Lao said in a trembling voice.

 

“The Young Master is offering prayers to the ancestors.”

 

“Isn’t this desecration?”

 

“No.”

 

Guo Lao looked back at Moyong Bi.

 

Moyong Bi’s eyes as he gazed at the ancestral tablets through the flames looked like he was viewing flawless rubies.

 

“In the past, the Moyong Noble Family had a custom of praying for prosperity during ancestral rites. One person would step forward as a representative, burn high-quality silk clothes, and entrust their soul to the ancestors.”

 

“…!”

 

“If prosperity was received and the family flourished, the representative who offered their soul as collateral could never join the ancestors but would wander this world eternally, protecting the family.”

 

“…There was such a thing?”

 

“You wouldn’t know. Even the Former Family Head only experienced it three or four times.”

 

“….”

 

“It was a ritual culture that was abolished as useless ceremony and tradition.”

 

Guo Lao wanted to ask. How do you know this forgotten history and culture?

 

But Moyong Bi’s gaze, his atmosphere, would not tolerate any questions.

 

Beyond the blazing flames, two ancestral tablets caught his eye sharply.

 

‘Elder Brother. And Dae Ho.’

 

Following the flickering flames, Moyong Bi’s eyes also seemed to waver.

 

‘Do not worry. The Main Family will soar again.’

 

Finally, tears flowed from Moyong Bi’s eyes.

 

‘Now rest peacefully without worry.’

 

On the fifth day since Moyong Cheon had entered his great grand nephew’s body.

 

The Moyong Family quietly fired the signal flare of revival.

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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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