Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 66
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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 66. Madness Manifestation (1)
The sun was slowly beginning to hang over the Western Mountain.
Though it wasn’t yet the light one could call sunset, it strangely appeared red.
‘The color of blood…’
Moyong Su Hyang’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
“Damn it, I have no strength.”
She grumbled and vigorously swung her wooden sword.
Her movements somehow carried an undertone of irritation.
A moment later.
Thud!
Moyong Su Hyang threw down her wooden sword with a huff, then sat in lotus position and closed her eyes.
How much time had passed?
“Phew.”
When Moyong Su Hyang opened her closed eyes, her face was full of unease.
“Why is that idiot so late?”
Shouldn’t she go check on him right now?
Elder Sister’s words were right. The Sword Family Head wasn’t a fool either, and rather than attack Elder Brother who had made Ten Swords Gate into that state, he would have treated him well if anything.
But why? She kept worrying.
“Damn it, that bastard isn’t drinking himself stupid again, is he?”
Moyong Su Hyang, who had been chewing her lips, suddenly stood up.
“This won’t do. I should at least go to the marketplace.”
That’s when it happened.
“Are you worried?”
“You startled me!”
Moyong Su Hyang turned around.
Guo Lao was there.
His figure with the particularly red sunlight behind him today looked mysteriously dark.
“Guo Lao, when did you arrive?”
“Hehe, I came just a moment ago.”
Moyong Su Hyang scratched her head as if embarrassed.
“I see.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Well… I’m not really hungry.”
“Are you worried about Young Master?”
“Worried about what!”
Moyong Su Hyang reflexively shouted, then sighed.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Hehehe.”
“I’m not worried. What’s there to worry about with that guy? A drunkard, a troublemaker, a damn bastard…”
“…”
“I take back calling him a damn bastard.”
“Young Miss.”
“Yes?”
“Young Master will be safe.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course.”
Why was it? Today especially, she felt strong power in Guo Lao’s voice.
“I heard that Young Master taught Honyuan Martial Arts to the Family Head and True Dragon Martial Arts to Young Miss.”
“It’s not really teaching… And I’ve only learned Twin Dragon Energy so far.”
“Honyuan Unity Qi Art and True Dragon Dual Origin Technique are supreme arts counted among the three great divine arts of the Moyong Family Estate, secret transmissions that can look down upon the world when mastered to their peak.”
“Ah…”
“The former former Family Head who practiced Honyuan Unity Qi Art had no rivals except for the Ten Great Masters of that time, and the Former Family Head who practiced True Dragon Dual Origin Technique achieved remarkable feats in the war against the Sacred Blood Palace.”
These were words that made her heart race.
Though she couldn’t really grasp it, thinking about it, Guo Lao was a living witness who had experienced that era of war.
“Since he taught such martial arts to both of you, Young Master must also be learning the main family’s secret supreme arts. With martial power that overwhelmed Ten Swords Sect Leader Hwang Gyu head-on, there’s no possibility of anything happening to him.”
Even the same words were received differently.
Elder Sister had said similar things, but then those words felt like vague hopes. Just a heart wishing for safety.
But hearing Guo Lao’s words, her heart felt so at ease that she wondered why she had been worrying.
Was that why? Somehow she felt like relying on Guo Lao.
“Guo Lao, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a long time.”
“Please speak.”
“Why did Guo Lao hide the fact that you were Grandfather’s escort warrior for so long? We siblings only found out after we grew up, except for Chief Administrator.”
Even so, the reason she had been respectful to Guo Lao since childhood was because Seok Woong was particularly careful in front of him.
Guo Lao smiled.
It was a somewhat bitter-looking smile.
“What would change by knowing? I am just Guo Lao.”
It was an atmosphere where it was hard to ask anything more.
Actually, there was something else she really wanted to ask.
‘Talk about martial arts is forbidden with Guo Lao, Young Miss.’
These were words she had heard when she was frustrated, wondering why he didn’t teach them martial arts when he must have been a great master if he was Grandfather’s escort warrior.
So for a while, she avoided Guo Lao. She resented him for no reason.
But as time passed, she thought there must be circumstances. Just looking at Seok Woong’s attitude, she could tell that Guo Lao wasn’t deliberately playing only the role of a servant.
From then on, Guo Lao was just Guo Lao to her.
As time passed like that, she naturally forgot even the fact that Guo Lao had been Grandfather’s escort warrior.
Moyong Su Hyang, who had been staring at Guo Lao, smiled brightly.
“That’s right. Guo Lao is Guo Lao.”
“Oh my, now that I’m getting old, my knees are getting stiff.”
“Please sit here for a moment.”
“Shall I?”
Moyong Su Hyang also took a seat next to Guo Lao who sat in a corner of the training ground.
“Guo Lao, Guo Lao. What was the main family like in the past?”
“Haven’t you heard much from Chief Administrator?”
“I want to hear it from Guo Lao too. Since you always traveled with Grandfather, you must know more than Chief Administrator.”
“Do you want to hear it?”
“Yes! Please tell me.”
Guo Lao smiled gently.
“The Moyong Family Estate in Yolyeong was…”
Two people having a cozy conversation in the sunset light.
Their appearance looked as comfortable as grandparent and grandchild.
* * *
“Over here! This way!”
“Damn it! It’s much worse than we thought!”
Wujiangge became chaotic. It was because the Red Sword Three Groups, smashed by Moyong Bi, had returned.
However, less than half of them had regained consciousness. Even those who had regained consciousness were barely in their right minds, carrying their comrades while having broken bones somewhere.
“Damn it! Hurry up and take off all their hats first!”
“Tear off the uniform first! The bones will set while broken! We need to take action quickly!”
“Where is the old physician? If he’s not here, call Physician Bang at least!”
It was absolute chaos.
The squad members were moved to the family medical hall instead of their residence. Even the swordsmen who had somehow carried their comrades collapsed as soon as they entered the medical hall.
“It’s serious.”
One of the resident physicians sighed.
“Almost all of them have internal injuries. There are three or four squad members without internal injuries, but they can’t regain consciousness due to whatever technique was used on them.”
Even Lee Jong Baek, the Wujiangge Master known to be more stoic than the Red Sword Corps Leader, had his face completely contorted.
But his voice remained the same.
“Were they struck by staff techniques?”
“That’s right. In the midst of it…”
“In the midst of it?”
“According to the senior squad member, that Moyong Bi fellow attacked the squad members once more on his way back.”
“What?!”
Whoosh!
Terrifying killing intent erupted from Lee Jong Baek’s body.
The physician trembled as he spoke.
“B-but no one died… though thanks to that, Yi Da Jing seems to have fainted even more.”
“Why on earth did that bastard do such a thing?”
“That is…”
The physician naturally had no way of knowing.
“How is Gong De Zhi? Can he speak?”
“Conversation is possible.”
Lee Jong Baek entered the medical hall without asking permission.
“Good grief.”
Bewilderment settled on Lee Jong Baek’s face, which had been filled with anger.
It was truly a bizarre spectacle.
Someone was completely stripped down to only their undergarments, while another was having their bones set through torn pants. Someone else wore only a bamboo hat while having splints applied to one leg and both arms, and there was also someone receiving treatment with only their upper garment removed.
Whether it was bamboo hats or clothes, there was a risk of bones becoming misaligned if carelessly removed. This state would be maintained until initial treatment was completed.
‘This crazy bastard!’
Lee Jong Baek turned his head.
Just then, Gong De Zhi, who had been receiving treatment for his left arm with his bamboo hat removed, stood up from his spot.
“I greet the Master.”
“Gong De Zhi.”
“Yes.”
He tried to stand straight before his superior, but kept swaying.
He had clearly suffered quite severe internal injuries. His center was unstable, as if his legs had also been attacked.
Lee Jong Baek, struggling to control his anger, asked slowly.
“Is it true that Moyong Bi attacked again?”
“…That’s correct.”
“Why did that bastard suddenly do that?”
“I’m not sure, but he suddenly laughed like a madman and then attacked us.”
“…!”
“I’m sorry.”
He would have nothing to say for himself.
Being defeated by a single enemy was already absurd enough, but that bastard had smashed them again while they were down on his way back.
It was an act worthy of universal condemnation, but he felt too sorry and ashamed to even be angry.
Lee Jong Baek sighed quietly.
“Unless that bastard is a demon, how could he do such a thing? What a truly cruel fellow.”
“…”
“Enough. Go receive treatment.”
“Yes.”
“But what about the Red Sword Corps Leader? Has he come?”
“I haven’t seen him yet.”
Lee Jong Baek’s cheek twitched.
‘No matter how busy he is!’
Unlike Hong In, he had some respect for Hong Myeong.
Though he sometimes showed overly cold aspects, he thought that much wasn’t bad for a future family head.
‘I taught him that being strict about discipline and being ruthless are different things.’
He had taught Hong Myeong many things since childhood. Even if not a master, he thought he had sufficiently played the role of a reliable senior to follow.
Moreover, they were now in a direct superior-subordinate relationship.
‘…That fellow has also become strange.’
From a few years ago?
Hong Myeong’s personality, which used to show human aspects despite being taciturn, had strangely changed.
Especially when dealing with subordinates, he had become particularly rigid.
If pressed to describe it, he seemed to lack empathy. There were times when he seemed to think of subordinates not as individual personalities but as chess pieces.
Still, his work efficiency had improved and his martial arts had also developed at a decent pace.
He had considered him talent worthy of inheriting the family business.
‘This won’t do. Today I must give him a proper scolding.’
His anger and disappointment stemmed from his affection.
It was when Lee Jong Baek was about to leave the medical hall.
‘…’
He glanced at a squad member collapsed in the corner.
The squad member who had been breathing roughly suddenly coughed up blood.
Dried bloodstains were visible on the jawline revealed beneath the bamboo hat. His body was also trembling, indicating quite severe internal injuries.
‘Am I mistaken?’
He thought he had sensed some alien energy, but it seemed he had been mistaken.
It was understandable. Though he maintained composure outwardly, his heart was boiling with rage and his head was full of confusion.
Lee Jong Baek sighed quietly and left the room.
“We’re too short-handed! Where did all the physicians go?!”
“It’ll take some time!”
“Damn it! This won’t do! Go gather some laborers from the outer courtyard! Every moment counts!”
“I’ll go after giving this medicine!”
“Hurry!”
A medical attendant inserted a needle into the squad member’s jaw.
The medical attendant fed herbal medicine into the squad member’s mouth, which naturally opened.
After finishing the medicine, the medical attendant removed the needle and stood up.
At that moment, the squad member who had taken the medicine slid smoothly across the floor.
In the spacious area where no one was paying attention, nobody saw him naturally follow the medical attendant out.
The squad member who had taken the opposite direction from where the medical attendant was running removed his bamboo hat and blended into the darkness.
Slide. Slide.
Having also removed his outer garment, he spotted a laborer in the distance running about busily. That laborer happened to be heading toward the warehouse.
The man blended with darkness moved between the shadows.
It was so quiet that even the sound of rustling clothes couldn’t be heard, but the commotion from the Red Sword Third Unit filled the air. No one noticed his presence.
A short while later.
The man who emerged from the warehouse was now dressed as a laborer.
He had disheveled his hair to cover half his face, making him truly look like a laborer. The dried blood scabs were also hidden by his hair.
“…There it is.”
Where the darkness-turned-laborer was looking stood a rather splendid pavilion.
The man ran urgently toward the pavilion.
It was the kind of running you’d expect from someone who knew nothing about martial arts and had only worked their whole life.
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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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