Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 65

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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 65. Stench or Fragrance (5)

Whoooosh.

The moment the cool breeze from the bamboo grove brushed past the hair by their ears, it screamed at the strange heat.

Hap! Hap!

The swordsmen’s battle cries became even more intense and clear.

Moyong Bi turned his head to look at the swordsmen.

“Now they’re finally putting in proper effort.”

“….”

“Good. Indeed, people need appropriate tension.”

Even as he slowly set down his cup, Hong Jun Ak’s eyes never left Moyong Bi’s face.

The silence that crept in stealthily struggled between the two men.

It was Moyong Bi who rescued the pitiful silence.

“I think about it sometimes. How truly terrifying war is.”

“….”

“When the war with Sacred Blood Palace ended in the past, many people must have cheered. They must have been relieved, saying this damned war was finally over, that they could finally live in peace.”

“….”

“But I think they might have been more happy about the fact that they no longer had to become monsters, rather than about peaceful daily life.”

“…Monsters.”

“But even after the war with Sacred Blood Palace ended, people can always become monsters.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are only foreign invaders who attack our homeland enemies? Those trying to steal my rice bowl, those who killed my brothers, those who stabbed my friends in the back – they’re all enemies.”

“That’s probably why the saying ‘life is war’ came about.”

“That’s why people must always prepare for war. There’s no one who lives until death without experiencing a single major conflict.”

Moyong Bi turned his head again and filled his own cup.

“Everyone lives raising a monster in their heart.”

“….”

“When they need the monster, people can put on the monster’s hide. But what happens if they wear the monster’s hide even when they don’t need it?”

“What happens?”

“They become real monsters.”

Moyong Bi drained his cup refreshingly.

His flushed face returned to its original complexion.

“Once you get used to wearing the monster’s hide, you forget that you were even born human.”

Hong Jun Ak smiled coldly.

“How do I look in your eyes?”

“You seem to want to be a monster.”

“Not that I am a monster, but that I want to be one?”

“You could live like a human, but you deliberately try to become a monster. Why?”

Moyong Bi’s eyes became colorless and transparent, unlike Hong Jun Ak’s.

“Because it looks strong.”

His tone suddenly changed.

The murderous atmosphere heated up like boiling water.

“You want to become a monster as big as Mount Tai and rampage. Looking at yourself that no one can stop, you can comfort yourself that you’re a special existence.”

“….”

“Do you know what that means?”

“What?”

“It means you’re weak.”

“…!”

“You keep trying to become a monster because you’re weak and lacking. You’re only a bowl the size of a thimble when you look inside, but you want to contain a lake in it.”

“….”

“Even though it’s obvious you’ll regret drowning in the overflowing water in the end, you live intoxicated by the fantasy that you could somehow overcome it.”

Hong Jun Ak no longer wore the mask of a generous Sword Family Head.

“Sometimes a bowl the size of a thimble can grow large enough to contain even an ocean.”

“Baseless narcissism always requires reason as collateral.”

“Well-founded confidence is also sometimes maintained with sacrifice as collateral.”

“Haven’t you ever thought that the moment you use sacrifice as collateral, it becomes a limitation rather than confidence?”

Hong Jun Ak’s lips trembled slightly.

Moyong Bi, who had been quietly observing Hong Jun Ak’s face, smiled again.

“I think we’ve had enough alcohol by now?”

“….”

“I should go home for dinner. Please wrap up some jerky for me. Preferably a lot.”

Hong Jun Ak, who had been silently watching Moyong Bi, spoke to Hong Myeong.

“Wrap up two bundles’ worth.”

“Yes, Father.”

Moyong Bi burst into hearty laughter.

“You’re truly generous. I should have come sooner.”

Hong Jun Ak also regained his smile.

“If you like generous people, help out the Main Family from now on.”

“What could I possibly help with? With Ten Swords Gate in such a mess, isn’t Hong Clan Sword Family the best in Wuhan?”

“There’s something called appearances. I’m already gently scratching at Ten Swords Gate. I’d like to swallow them in one bite, but there are too many watching eyes, making it difficult.”

“You might get indigestion from being too greedy. You did well.”

“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask. If you were me, how would you try to swallow Ten Swords Gate?”

“I’d make them bring even their name plaque to me voluntarily.”

“How?”

“Though she’s the Gate Master’s blood, Hwang In Hwa has too much pride, and with both the Gate Master and Financial Affairs Pavilion Head fallen, the Elders will want to try their luck too, right?”

“You see well indeed.”

“If it were me, I’d win over one Elder.”

Hong Jun Ak’s eyes widened.

“From experience, since Hwang In Hwa can’t overcome the Elders, wouldn’t it be better to eliminate the Elders and manipulate Hwang In Hwa instead?”

“What nonsense is that? You’d keep Hwang In Hwa alive?”

“Huh?”

“You win over an Elder, use them to kill the other Elders and Hwang In Hwa, then immediately kill the Elder you won over too, so those empty-headed fools with no skills won’t try to climb up, right?”

“…?!”

“Of course, the deaths of Hwang In Hwa and the Elders should be handled as mutual destruction due to power struggles.”

“Huh.”

Hong Jun Ak was genuinely impressed.

“You’re truly ruthless.”

“I’m a great man no less than Five Grain Liquor, aren’t I?”

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought that far. We were trying to eliminate Ice Sword Han Gyeong.”

“Han Gyeong seems to be the strongest one currently?”

“You hit the nail on the head.”

“If I can’t calculate this much, shouldn’t I just go die?”

“Anyway, you’re saying to win over an Elder?”

“If you’re confident, a night raid would be fine too. That would be the cleanest method.”

Hong Jun Ak burst into hearty laughter.

“I invited you to see what kind of person you were, but I received an unexpected gift. Should I wrap more jerky?”

“Two bundles are enough. I might get indigestion from being greedy.”

“You got me there. Hahaha!”

Shortly after, Hong Myeong brought two heavy bundles.

Moyong Bi cheerfully stuck both bundles on the end of his wooden staff.

Hong Jun Ak asked.

“Did you learn staff technique?”

“I just learned various things here and there.”

“I definitely don’t sense any particular inclination. Truly remarkable. Martial arts are difficult enough to master with just one weapon.”

“It depends on how you approach it. Aren’t you also a master of palm techniques, Family Head?”

Hong Jun Ak nodded without changing his expression.

“My palms are quite fierce.”

“So it seems.”

“What’s your fiercest skill?”

“If this guy gets his hands on anything, you should start worrying. Whatever it is will be quite spicy.”

“Hahahaha!”

“I’ll be going now.”

“It was enjoyable.”

Moyong Bi turned around and walked away with a swaying gait.

Two heavy bundles dangled from the end of the wooden staff slung over his shoulder. His steps looked so cheerful, as if he were going on a trip somewhere, that he even seemed delightful.

Hong Jun Ak, with his hands clasped behind his back, watched Moyong Bi with indifferent eyes.

Creak.

And the moment the main gate closed.

Whoosh!

Hong Jun Ak’s aura spread out around him like an overflowing river.

The energy was so murderous that even the swordsmen who heard it stopped their sword training.

“Myeong.”

“Yes, Father.”

“We can’t just leave that one alone.”

Hong Myeong’s face also hardened grimly.

“It seems so.”

“You said to bring that child at dawn, right?”

He must be referring to Moyong Su Jeong.

“Yes.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Hong Jun Ak lifted his chin.

“Tonight, we’ll strike the Moyong Family.”

It was a driving force that was difficult to explain even with the term radical.

But Hong Myeong didn’t try to stop his father’s words. Not only was it not the situation for that, but he didn’t want to either.

“How should we prepare?”

“That bastard’s martial arts are no ordinary thing. So I’ll ask. Can you handle him alone?”

“I don’t know.”

It wasn’t something he said out of pride.

Hong Myeong couldn’t properly read Moyong Bi’s martial arts level. At a glance, he seemed to be below himself, but from another perspective, there seemed to be a gap that was difficult to overcome.

One thing was certain: that bastard was excessively dangerous.

“It would probably be difficult for you alone. It’s not a matter of internal energy or anything like that. That bastard’s senses are too exceptional.”

“Yes.”

When he activated the Red Death Technique, Hong Myeong was skilled enough to easily subdue even Hong In, who was considered the best in Wuhan, as easily as twisting a child’s wrist.

Even though he was saying it would be difficult for someone like himself, Hong Myeong remained calm.

He had acknowledged his opponent’s skill.

“Should we bring out the Three Serpents…”

At those muttered words, Hong Myeong flinched.

Three Serpents.

If the Red Sword Unit was the highest elite of the Hong Clan Sword Family shown to the outside world, the Three Serpents were the Hong Clan Sword Family’s secret masters who had never been revealed anywhere.

Though there were only three of them, each one’s skill overwhelmed Hwang Gyu.

Masters who could leave their names anywhere they went.

“Father, the Three Serpents are…”

“When they’re needed, they must be used. This father can’t stand having something murky behind him, can he?”

Inviting Moyong Bi was also because of that same personality.

He had directly confronted him to find out what kind of bastard this suddenly appearing young master was, and whether he had any backing.

But the one who actually got beaten was himself.

His pride was hurt, but his sense of alarm increased accordingly.

“This actually worked out well.”

The corners of Hong Jun Ak’s mouth rose.

“Let’s finish the Moyong Family business today and work on Ten Swords Gate tomorrow.”

It had been over fifteen years since he had been holding back. Once he decided to act, it became hard to endure any longer.

“Have everything ready by midnight.”

“Will you go with the Three Serpents?”

“I’m going too.”

“What?!”

Deep greed appeared on Hong Jun Ak’s face.

“The Moyong Family’s secret place… we need to confirm if it’s real, don’t we?”

* * *

After crossing the bridge, Dark Shadow walked out from the forest on the other side. The moment the main gate opened, he had crossed the eastern wall and slipped into the forest without anyone knowing.

“You came?”

“Yes.”

“Kid, you have loyalty.”

“You can’t leave when I haven’t even had a chance to win your favor.”

Moyong Bi chuckled.

“How do those bastards look to your eyes?”

Dark Shadow’s eyes narrowed as he glanced back.

“Dangerous.”

“Because they’re the Hong Clan Sword Family?”

“That too, but… strangely, the Family Head seemed dangerous.”

“What about the Family Head?”

“His temperament. I felt like he was hiding something.”

Dark Shadow looked back at Moyong Bi.

“Just like you, Young Master.”

It wasn’t because his martial arts level was high that he noticed.

It was the assassin’s uniquely sensitive senses sending danger signals. It was also not very far from the main gate.

“You definitely have good instincts. Even with assassination training, it’s hard to be that sensitive.”

“Are you certain the Family Head has something?”

“The father and son both learned demonic arts.”

“What? De-demonic arts?!”

“Though they’re only half-baked.”

Dark Shadow was extremely flustered.

Demonic arts? Where did the Hong Clan Sword Family Head learn demonic arts?

“But this worked out well. If I were alone, it might have been a bit overwhelming, but I’m glad you’re here at least.”

“What?”

“An opportunity to force my way into my heart has appeared, hasn’t it?”

“What do you mean…?”

Moyong Bi, who had stopped walking, looked back at the Hong Clan Sword Family.

“Not only did he get caught practicing demonic arts, but he even said he would kill a Ten Swords Gate elder. He openly revealed information that would cause an uproar if it became known.”

Dark Shadow’s eyes flashed.

“They’ll definitely try to silence us.”

“They’ll attack tonight.”

“Then…?”

“We need to break their legs before they come. If those bastards attack, Elder Sister and Su Hyang will be in chaos.”

Dark Shadow was flustered.

“C-can just the two of us handle it?”

“Who said we’re going to push all those bastards back? We just need to pick up a few key pieces.”

“How…?”

Moyong Bi smiled wickedly.

“Let’s see if our Hong Clan Master can distinguish between fragrance and stench.”

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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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