Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 62

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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 62. Stench or Fragrance (2)

The reason the Brain Gate Heart Technique induced madness was simple.

It forcibly drew in the energy of nature through the space between the eyebrows, the Yintang acupoint, to enrich the brain’s qi. Immediately after, it extracted turbid energy through the crown of the head, the Baihui acupoint, leaving only pure essence.

Up to this point was fine, but the problem started from there.

The essence remaining after extracting the turbid qi was too pure for an unrefined mind to accept, and in the process of that energy amplifying the brain’s capacity, the innate divine qi of humans was forcibly awakened.

Artificial growth of spiritual power occurred.

There was no way a foolish mind could handle that sacred energy. It was a natural progression to keep seeing illusions and having emotions thrown into chaos.

In other words, the Brain Gate Heart Technique induced madness because it artificially accepted power not permitted to humans.

Conversely, there were advantages to be gained as much as the disadvantages.

One of them was the ability to detect those who went against heaven.

When the energy purified of turbid qi by the Soul Burning First Method settled, the brain became extremely activated, and from then on, though unstable, fragments of heavenly qi mixed with the nature of the soul. This was because the entrances and exits of the soul, Yintang and Baihui, had been forcibly opened.

The Soul Burning First Method was a furnace for the soul, selectively removing only the turbid qi from the minute amounts of incoming energy. It became that much more sensitive to the energy of nature.

In the same sense, it also became sensitive to energy that opposed nature.

This meant becoming sensitive to the qi that went against heaven, namely demonic energy.

Zing! Zing!

The Brain Gate True Energy, which had been letting out long cries, now emitted short, thick, regular resonances.

‘This is definitely…’

The Brain Gate True Energy had detected something.

And that something had an extremely high probability of being demonic energy.

‘It’s not certain yet. But this regular rhythm and the degree of noise… it’s too much to say it’s not demonic energy…’

Moyong Bi, who had been looking at the Hong Clan Sword Family with serious eyes, turned his gaze to Gu Wol.

“Was it Gu Wol?”

“Yes.”

“You guys, you’re really orthodox sect, right?”

“…That’s correct.”

Gu Wol, who interpreted this as meaning they were too servile for an orthodox sect, even bowed his head in shame.

Moyong Bi didn’t get annoyed.

“The martial arts you’ve learned, they’re all orthodox techniques, right?”

Orthodox techniques didn’t mean martial arts learned by orthodox sect people, but martial arts that contained energy that wasn’t wicked, even if their pursuits were different.

“Of, of course.”

Bewilderment appeared on Gu Wol’s face. Why was he suddenly asking such questions?

‘Definitely.’

As a result of feeling it while fighting directly, what the Red Sword Three Groups squad members had learned were definitely orthodox techniques.

Hong In’s martial arts were the same. Perhaps because they were blood relatives, he seemed to have learned techniques comparable to Hwang Gyu’s secret martial arts.

‘Then what is it?’

Could it be that a demon hiding their identity was secretly active in the Hong Clan Sword Family?

“…”

Toward Moyong Bi, who was looking at the Hong Clan Sword Family with a serious face, Gu Wol hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Um… Young Master.”

“…”

“Sh, shall we depart again?”

“What?”

“Yes? Ah! I asked if we should depart again.”

“Depart…”

It would be quick if they just crossed the bridges placed here and there across the narrow river width.

“Alright.”

Moyong Bi made his decision.

“Depart.”

“Understood.”

Following behind Gu Wol, Moyong Bi thought.

‘Just in case.’

Honestly, demons? As long as he didn’t encounter them, it didn’t matter.

To put it bluntly, even rampaging like a madman in the war with the Sacred Blood Palace was for the family’s sake, and as the Martial Alliance Leader he fought, but if it had been only for Moyong Cheon alone, he might have gone into the deep mountains and valleys to live leisurely.

But now it was different.

Humans don’t live by nature alone. Past life and experiences brought values of family love and social contribution over individualistic nature and stuck them on layer by layer.

All those experiences combined to become the current self.

‘Taking a look first isn’t bad.’

The Family Head would be furious, but he could just claim they picked a fight first.

Of course, there was no way that Family Head bastard would let it slide with words like ‘Ah, is that so? Sorry about that.’ or ‘He’s my son, but even I think he’s…’

‘In the worst case, I can just run away.’

With muscles attached, he was confident he could instantly create distance if he seriously deployed lightness skills.

Meanwhile, if the Sword Family’s Family Head was at a similar level to Hwang Gyu, it wouldn’t matter if he just roughly stirred things up and left.

Either way, they would obviously find out that their second son got wrecked by his hands, so there was no reason to worry about it now.

‘The problem isn’t that.’

There were several reasons why he decided to go in and see.

The biggest reason among them was…

‘The case where the Family Head is a demon.’

Just as he had never heard of the Ten Swords Gate, the Hong Clan Sword Family was also a martial family he had never heard of.

In other words, it meant a martial family that had grown in about twenty years.

It was certain that the Ten Swords Gate had grown through all kinds of politics and business.

The Hong Clan Sword Family would probably be similar, but the difference from the Ten Swords Gate was that they didn’t reveal themselves much to the world.

‘It means they have secretly operated businesses. Well, there are many guys with rotten insides, so that could be the case.’

There are times when guys with rotten insides quietly lie low and grow.

Usually when they have backing, or when they accidentally gained tremendous power.

‘It’s likely one of the two.’

What if a fallen demonic force was quietly growing using the Hong Clan Sword Family as a front?

‘If that’s really the case, it’s not something to just pass by.’

Though there were those who didn’t, usually the end of those who learned demonic arts wasn’t good.

Not just themselves, but when they started rampaging madly, they would commonly not recognize even their own flesh and blood, only pursuing destruction before coughing up blood and dying.

‘…Well, it’s not certain yet.’

Zing! Zing!

‘Is it certain?’

The closer they got, the stronger the Brain Gate True Energy’s resonance became.

Moyong Bi’s face was now completely serious. For the Brain Gate Heart Technique with low achievement to go berserk to this degree was impossible unless it was demonic energy.

Thus, the three people crossed the bridge and reached the front of the Hong Clan Sword Family’s main gate.

“Stop.”

The Gate Guard Officers in front of the main gate stepped forward.

“State your affiliation.”

Even though they knew he was the Squad Leader and Deputy Squad Leader of the Red Sword Three Groups, they came out stiffly. It meant they were well trained.

However, the officers’ faces were colored with confusion. It was natural since the Squad Leader had come covered in blood, carried on the Deputy Squad Leader’s back.

“Gu Wol. Deputy Squad Leader of the Red Sword Three Groups.”

Gu Wol took out an identification plaque from his chest.

His hands, covered in dried blood, trembled pitifully.

“Confirmed.”

“And this person here is…”

Gu Wol gulped.

“Young Master Moyong of the Moyong Family, who came in response to the Family Head’s invitation.”

Was it because identity verification was already complete? Or was it because they were flustered?

The officers hurriedly knocked on the main gate.

Kuguung.

The main gate, one and a half times taller than a person’s height, opened wide to both sides.

Huuuuung.

From inside the main gate, a mysterious hot wind seemed to blow.

Ziiing! Ziiiing!

The luminescence of the Brain Gate True Energy grew increasingly intense.

“Please enter.”

Even though he had come home, Gu Wol couldn’t act arrogantly or drop his respectful tone. That’s how frightening Moyong Bi was to him.

Moyong Bi slowly entered through the main gate.

Ziiiing!

With each step he took, the resonance grew stronger.

And finally.

Huk!

A cold wind swirled around his ears.

The resonance disappeared. The Brain Gate True Energy had naturally settled itself.

“G-Great Master!”

“The third squad leader?”

“…Yes.”

“What about the remaining squad members?”

“On the way here… they’re lying collapsed.”

Hong Myeong looked over Gu Wol and Hong In’s conditions with an expressionless face and nodded.

“Take them to the Medical Hall.”

“Yes!”

With that, Gu Wol ran off in a hurry.

Kuguung.

The main gate closed completely.

“You must be Young Master Moyong Bi?”

His attitude was completely different from Hong In’s.

Though he had his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze and atmosphere were completely different from Hong In, who had immediately started speaking informally.

Moyong Bi nodded silently.

“Since you’ve come as a guest, it would be proper to escort you directly to the Family Head’s Office, but as the superior of the third squad leader, there are things I must confirm.”

His voice was as monotone as his expression.

Moyong Bi’s eyes gradually became transparent.

Conversely, Hong Myeong’s eyebrows twitched slightly. It was a tremor he himself didn’t recognize.

“By any chance, did our swordsmen make any mistakes toward you?”

“…”

“Please tell me. I’m asking not as the eldest son of the Hong Clan Sword Family, but as the Red Sword Great Master, so you need not feel burdened.”

Moyong Bi still didn’t answer.

Yet his gaze toward Hong Myeong grew increasingly transparent.

‘…’

Huuuung.

Though he wasn’t particularly conscious of it, the wind brushing his nape felt vivid.

Hong Myeong felt his back becoming slightly, just slightly damp.

‘What is this?’

Moyong Bi’s two eyes watching him felt strangely burdensome.

‘What kind of eyes are those?’

Jurureuk.

A drop of sweat trickled down from his nape.

His mouth began to gradually dry up. His hands clasped behind his back grew cold, and parts of his arms and back began to tingle.

Hong Myeong was inwardly flustered.

‘Why am I acting like this?’

That’s when it happened.

“Are you hot?”

“…?”

“The day is cold, yet why are you sweating so much?”

Hong Myeong silently wiped his forehead and nape with his sleeve, then spoke again.

“I apologize. Let me ask again. Did our swordsmen wrong you?”

Only then did Moyong Bi smile.

“Wrong… you don’t seem to think so yourself.”

“Please, I would be grateful if you could tell me what happened.”

“It’s not difficult.”

Tuk tuk.

The wooden staff naturally tapped its owner’s shoulder.

Moyong Bi’s tone and voice were as natural as that motion.

“In front of someone else’s main gate, they made insulting and mocking remarks about our main family’s head. There was no proper apology.”

“…”

“On the way here, they picked a fight with me, saying I had no manners and they couldn’t deliver me to Father like this. I suppose having reliable squad members made them bold?”

Hong Myeong’s cheek trembled.

“…Did they really?”

“They couldn’t even hide their killing intent. What choice did I have? I had to sweep them all away.”

“You defeated all of Red Sword Three Groups?”

“If it were you, would you go easy on sword wielders charging at you to capture you?”

Hong Myeong was greatly shocked.

‘He really handled Red Sword Three Groups alone?’

Even with similar strength, facing one person versus facing multiple people are completely different matters. Moreover, wasn’t Red Sword Three Groups’ combination technique renowned for its exquisiteness?

Even granting a hundred concessions that he could somehow win…

‘Not a single wound. No sign of fatigue either.’

What did this mean?

‘The martial power to single-handedly overwhelm Red Sword Three Groups!’

A corner of his chest felt cold.

Undeniable tension cast over Hong Myeong’s eyes as he looked at Moyong Bi.

‘This guy is truly strong.’

Unlike his younger brother, he was someone who could accept reality as it was.

Moyong Bi suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Well, I was quite heated, but when Murim Warriors exchange insults, these things can happen. As long as no one died, isn’t that what matters?”

“…Indeed.”

“At roughly a two-hour walk by my pace, there are collapsed swordsmen on a small path. Since their sword momentum was quite threatening, please understand that I couldn’t go easy on them.”

Unexpectedly, Hong Myeong nodded cheerfully.

“I understand. Rather, I should be grateful. They couldn’t even recognize a master and presumptuously attacked, so it wouldn’t have been strange if their lives were lost.”

“Your words make me feel more ashamed.”

“No. Our family’s warriors committed a great discourtesy. As the Great Master of Red Sword Group, I apologize.”

Hong Myeong confidently performed a martial salute.

Moyong Bi’s smiling expression became indifferent again.

‘This one’s quite clever.’

In his eyes, he could see not Hong Myeong’s exterior, but his interior.

Something that the Brain Gate Heart Technique had detected, surrounding his heart.

Meanwhile, Hong Myeong felt goosebumps rising on his nape.

‘Moyong Bi…’

Without realizing it, he swallowed dry saliva.

‘This guy is dangerous.’

It wasn’t because he possessed the martial prowess to face the Red Sword Third Unit alone.

It was just dangerous. It was an instinctual cry.

Hong Myeong slowly straightened his back and stepped aside.

“I’ll apologize once more when the time comes later. Now, let’s go to the Family Head’s Office.”

“Well, let’s do that.”

Hong Myeong took the lead, and Moyong Bi followed behind him.

‘Right, that’s why everyone doesn’t know.’

The Hong Clan Sword Family was a more dangerous household than expected.

And it was equally intriguing and precarious.

‘It was only half complete.’

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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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