Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 63

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 63. Stench or Fragrance (3)

“Hah!”

Flash!

The movements of the swordsmen swinging their swords in unison were quite decent.

At the very least, their fundamentals seemed solid. It was a stark contrast to the Fire Sword Group.

“Good.”

“What do you mean?”

“The swordsmen’s movements.”

Even if they’re not elite, they openly show their training. That means they’re confident.

Hong Myeong slightly bowed his head and said.

“They’re not at a level worthy of Young Master Murong’s praise.”

“If you saw the swordsmen at the main house, you’d swallow those words.”

“Are you referring to the Fire Sword Group?”

“Not fire swords, but weed blades. The name sounds grand, but there’s not even this much substance.”

Hong Myeong glanced at Moyong Bi’s face.

There wasn’t a trace of tension anywhere in his indifferent expression.

“I lived without paying attention, but recently started watching again, and they were pathetically hopeless. Their sword paths are all scattered, their postures are half-hearted, and they only have vigorous stamina, so they practice harder with wrong postures – how could I not be furious?”

“…I see.”

“Well, it’s largely my fault for not caring about the family. Still, for those who call themselves swordsmen to lack even the basics is useless.”

Whether he truly felt displeased, he even clicked his tongue, and anyone could see this wasn’t a fabricated reaction.

Hong Myeong was inwardly flustered.

‘I can’t figure out his personality.’

This isn’t modesty – he’s genuinely criticizing them.

No matter how displeased, it’s not easy to grumble like this to others. Rather, considering the Moyong Family’s situation, shouldn’t he be embellishing even non-existent stories?

“By the way, your home is really nice.”

“Is it?”

“The location is good, and coming inside, it seems each building was carefully and well-constructed. It has class.”

His expression showed genuine admiration. Beyond admiration, there was even a hint of envy.

‘…I really don’t understand.’

He thought he’d met quite many people through external affairs, but this was the first time encountering such an unpredictable person.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“By the way, you said the Family Head’s Office?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Moyong Bi stopped walking.

“What’s wrong?”

“Does the Family Head frequently come and go in the outer courtyard?”

Though he didn’t show it, Hong Myeong was flustered once again. What is this guy trying to say now?

“I wouldn’t know that far. I’ve been busy lately too.”

“He probably doesn’t visit often.”

Though he wondered why that mattered, he couldn’t help but ask out of courtesy.

“Why do you think so?”

“The overall atmosphere of the sword family is well-sharpened. It means discipline and order are systematically established.”

That was true.

“But look at the training swordsmen. There’s no tension or burden on their faces. Freely developing sword techniques is sometimes necessary.”

“…?”

“If the family head frequently came and went, those expressions wouldn’t appear.”

“Are you saying the swordsmen look lazy?”

“I’m saying there’s no tension.”

Hong Myeong looked at the swordsmen.

Perhaps because he heard that, they really did seem to lack tension.

“Depending on personality, martial arts, and organizational characteristics, warriors’ training atmosphere also changes. At least it’s clear that the sword family’s atmosphere and their atmosphere don’t match.”

“…Is that so?”

“So I propose.”

Moyong Bi pointed with his hand to a low, flat rock behind the training swordsmen.

“To give the swordsmen some tension, could you ask if we could have a drink over there?”

“Th-there?!”

Even the composed Hong Myeong couldn’t help but stutter.

“There’s a bamboo grove behind the rock. The scenery is nice, perfect for a drink. Watching the swordsmen train wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Young Master Murong, please don’t misunderstand. Our Family Head has prepared much for Young Master Murong…”

“Right now, aren’t you the Red Sword Great Master, not the sword family’s eldest son?”

“…”

“Just ask once. If he says to come in, then I’ll go in.”

Seeing his grinning expression, it seemed he absolutely had no intention of going in.

Hong Myeong’s eyes deepened.

‘He’s not to be underestimated.’

What else could this mean but preparing for any possible situation?

The outer courtyard was fine, but the moment he entered the inner courtyard, he couldn’t escape even if he wanted to. There were real masters in the inner courtyard.

Of course, neither he nor his father had any intention of doing anything to Moyong Bi here, but from Moyong Bi’s perspective, he had to be prepared.

Hong Myeong, who was about to nod, suddenly opened his mouth at a thought that occurred to him.

“Are you perhaps nervous?”

It was a subtle provocation.

Aren’t you ashamed to be scared after coming this far?

Moyong Bi’s shoulders trembled.

“Wouldn’t the Great Master be nervous when entering a martial family as large as the Hong Clan Sword Family alone? Of course I should be.”

Saying it like that left nothing to argue with.

“Don’t take it badly. Since we’re going to have drinks anyway, let’s do it comfortably. Since you invited me saying you’d treat me, you can respect the guest’s preferences, can’t you?”

It was utterly shameless talk.

Hong Myeong, who had been staring at Moyong Bi, nodded.

“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll convey Young Master Murong’s proposal to the Family Head.”

“I won’t cause trouble, so don’t worry and take your time.”

It was worse than saying nothing at all.

Hong Myeong turned around and headed toward the inner courtyard.

Moyong Bi inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘What kind of household is this.’

He’d never seen the sisters of Ten Swords Gate so he wouldn’t know, but the Hong Clan Sword Family brothers were definitely not normal no matter how he looked at them.

‘Even though his younger brother came back completely destroyed, how can he be so calm?’

Of course, it was true that Hong In had crossed the line, and Hong Myeong’s handling as Great Master was nearly perfect.

But there was no sadness or anger toward his blood relative who had become a wreck.

‘Rather, he seemed to find it satisfying.’

That wasn’t something you could hide just by trying to hide it.

Because he had accepted fragments of demonic energy, it was even harder to escape Moyong Bi’s senses. The Brain Gate Heart Technique was extremely activated.

He glanced toward the main gate.

‘That guy does have some skill after all.’

The power of the activated Brain Gate Heart Technique quickly caught the presence of Dark Shadow who had secretly crossed over the high wall.

This was possible because he already knew of Dark Shadow’s existence. If he hadn’t known about him at all, it would have been difficult to detect him at this distance.

‘I thought he’d be full of wounded pride calling himself a slave, but he still does his job.’

If Dark Shadow had shown signs of returning to the family estate midway, he might have parted with the Red Sword Three Groups at the marketplace. He wasn’t completely trustworthy yet.

Having stopped paying attention to Dark Shadow, he looked around once more.

‘At least the shadow of demonic energy hasn’t fallen over this place.’

Places where real demonic practitioners reside have a different atmosphere from the very air itself.

How should I describe it? There’s an indescribable stuffiness you can feel. A distinctive atmosphere that makes you feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

Others might not know, but Moyong Bi does. There was a good reason why demonic practitioners were treated like a plague.

‘No matter how I look at it, it’s ordinary. Are there really no backers supporting them? Or perhaps….’

Moyong Bi, who had been lost in deep thought, soon shook his head.

‘I can’t know for certain right now.’

Until he had a direct conversation with the family head, he couldn’t be sure of anything.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been acting quite impulsively myself.’

Though he originally had such tendencies, given the circumstances, it would have been better to exercise restraint.

It wasn’t for any other reason.

‘They’re probably stamping their feet in frustration by now.’

Su Jeong and Su Hyang came to mind.

Su Jeong would be fine though. She might worry, but she wouldn’t act rashly. She had decided to become the family head, and she was wise with a naturally calm disposition.

The problem was Su Hyang.

‘…Tsk.’

She might be snorting like a wild boar, telling him to come back after getting thoroughly beaten up.

A comfortable smile spread across Moyong Bi’s face.

It hadn’t been long since he died and came back to life, yet those two girls felt as familiar as if he’d known them for years.

Just thinking about them was enough to make him smile.

‘You little ones, train hard. Power is what can make even truth appear false. Though it shouldn’t be that way, the world doesn’t dare touch those with power.’

Thinking of the two children naturally brought thoughts of Elder Brother and Dae Ho.

‘Elder Brother.’

Why was it?

Suddenly he recalled the moment when he received the report that Elder Brother had been ambushed by those demonic practitioners from Sacred Blood Palace.

He had gotten all worked up, making a fuss about needing to go immediately, but fortunately Elder Brother had come to the Martial Alliance.

‘Elder Brother! Are you alright?’

‘Hehe, I’m fine. Fortunately, Escort Guo was there too.’

‘Those vicious bastards, how long have they been targeting you?’

‘Kehehe! Alliance Leader, maintain your dignity.’

‘Do I look like I’m in a position to worry about dignity right now? This won’t do. These maggot-like bastards, I should just declare all-out war and push them to the ends of the earth…!’

‘Now, now, calm down and listen to what I have to say first.’

‘Grand Strategist! Where is the Grand Strategist!’

‘You fool! I came here because I have something to report! Please just calm down!’

The pleased smile turned into a bitter one.

‘Those were good times.’

Though it was during wartime, it was still an era filled with human warmth.

He was fortunate to be able to work for the family again in his great grand nephew’s body. Thanks to that, he could also see the faces of the grown-up Su Jeong and Su Hyang.

Still, his true identity was Moyong Cheon.

Though it was a difficult time for everyone due to the war, he wanted to live peacefully with people who shared the same generation, not drop into twenty years later.

Well, he couldn’t have imagined such a thing in the first place.

‘….’

Moyong Bi’s face, which had been smiling bitterly while recalling that conversation, gradually became more serious.

‘What is it?’

A corner of his mind felt itchy.

‘What’s making me feel like this….’

Something seemed about to surface but didn’t quite emerge.

Why was he suddenly feeling uneasy at this point? What was the problem?

‘Huh?’

Moyong Bi, who had been reviewing his conversation with Moyong Heon, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“Could it be?”

Guo Lao came to mind.

The image of Escort Warrior Guo Ho Gyun, who had brought Elder Brother with his battered body, gradually aged and transformed into the current Guo Lao.

“…!”

A chill ran down his spine.

“Mr. Guo, could you possibly…?”

That’s when it happened.

Creak.

Far in the distance, the door to the inner courtyard opened, and the sound carried all the way here.

Moyong Bi, who had been blankly looking up at the sky, soon hardened his expression.

‘Yes, that might have been the case.’

A dantian without internal energy, legs that had suffered injury.

And the head where he sensed something.

‘If my guess is correct….’

Moyong Bi closed his eyes.

Guo Ho Gyun’s younger days came to mind.

Eyes full of loyalty. An honest face that didn’t match his stubbornness, and a gentle personality.

‘Mr. Guo. No, Guo Lao.’

His fists naturally clenched with strength.

‘It seems we’ll have a lot to talk about.’

Whoosh!

Along with a gentle breeze, an intense presence was felt.

Moyong Bi slowly opened his eyes and turned his head.

A man who appeared to be in his late forties to early fifties was walking toward him carrying a bundle.

Despite his age, he was taller than Hong Myeong, the eldest son. His body hidden beneath his clothes was properly trained, and his steps were as light as feathers.

Whirrrr.

The dormant Brain Gate Heart Technique stirred to life again.

A deeper and more intense resonance than with Hong Myeong.

“I caught a glimpse of you before, but you give a completely different impression now.”

The man, Hong Jun Ak, smiled.

The shadow of a demon mask flickered like a phantom over his characteristically sharp and irritable features before disappearing.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m the one leading the Hong Clan Sword Family.”

Moyong Bi slowly cupped his fists in greeting.

“I am Moyong Bi.”

“So this is how I meet the most famous man in Wuhan currently.”

Hong Jun Ak’s smile deepened.

“Quite a hard person to see, aren’t you?”

A similar smile appeared on Moyong Bi’s face as well.

A smile that concealed true intentions while looking down on the other person.

“Viewing treasures is naturally difficult.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————