Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 79

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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 79. Owner of the Treasure (4)

The next morning.

“Hmm.”

Moyong Bi stroked his chin.

“This is better than I expected?”

“…Is that so?”

Dark Shadow’s demonstration, unfolding each martial art one by one since dawn, only ended after the eastern sky had brightened.

He received quite a lot of corrections throughout. Most of the corrections were about sword forms or body center movement, which took longer than expected.

“What’s the name of this martial art?”

“It’s Shadowless Kill .”

“As expected of assassin martial arts, the name itself drips with pretentious style.”

Dark Shadow had heard it called cool and deadly before, but this was the first time he’d heard it described as dripping with pretentious style.

Of course, he didn’t get angry. He wasn’t angry, and this wasn’t someone to get angry at either.

“Still, it’s quite useful. Like true assassin martial arts, it pursues one-hit kills with minimal force. There aren’t many assassination techniques of this level.”

“Yes.”

“If properly completed, you could deliver killing strikes in any situation without burden.”

Of course, Moyong Bi had seen assassination techniques that overwhelmed even this.

‘Death King, that damn bastard.’

Every move, every technique was deadly. He could overwhelm with strength and experience, but it was such impressive assassination martial arts that one moment of carelessness could lead to a counterattack.

Even after fighting countless battles and deepening his martial arts realm, he still didn’t want to face Death King again.

Not because he was strong, but because he was an enemy that required unusually constant attention.

“But this isn’t the original, right? It seems like your interpretation is mixed in here and there?”

Who could he fool?

Dark Shadow answered honestly.

“I made several modifications to suit my body type and strengths.”

That alone showed Dark Shadow’s talent was extraordinary.

Even for assassination techniques, modifying martial arts of this level to suit oneself isn’t easy. It meant his sense was good and his eye for martial arts was exceptional.

“But there must have been limits.”

Dark Shadow affirmed with silence.

After thinking for a moment, Moyong Bi clapped his hands.

“Good. We can skip Dragon Fighting Form and Blunt Method Arc Form.”

“What?!”

“It means your joints are flexible like an assassin’s, so we don’t need to start with tearing like weeds. Your physical characteristics are clear, so we can go straight into formal training.”

Dark Shadow’s eyes rippled like waves.

“Are you going to teach me martial arts?”

“Now? To you?”

“…?”

“No?”

“Then, then…?”

“It’s not that I don’t have martial arts to teach, but learning from me now wouldn’t be meaningful, would it?”

“….”

“Of course, I could tear everything apart and reshape it to fit the framework I envision. But what you’ve built up is too precious for that.”

Dark Shadow spoke seriously.

“I’m fine with throwing it all away. I don’t care how long it takes. I want to learn from Young Master.”

“Do you know that a man’s obsession is uglier than jealousy?”

“I don’t care.”

“I care, you pervert.”

“….”

“Well, once formal training is finished, learning from me would be fine.”

“What?”

Moyong Bi turned his head.

“Guo Lao.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Swish.

Guo Lao appeared like a shadow.

Dark Shadow flinched involuntarily.

‘What?’

Even though his mind was complicated, how could he not sense a presence less than three zhang away?

‘That old man is?’

He was even an old man with a limp.

Guo Lao, was it? From what he heard, he was an old servant who had lived at the Moyong Family for a long time.

“Stayed up all night, I see?”

“Hehe, I was so absorbed in energy cultivation that dawn broke before I knew it.”

“A day or two is fine, but still sleep when you need to. You should consider your age.”

“I’ll make sure to do so.”

“Well, Guo Lao will handle that properly.”

Moyong Bi pointed at Dark Shadow with his chin.

“You watched from the middle, right? How was it?”

Guo Lao turned his gaze to Dark Shadow.

Dark Shadow flinched once again.

‘…What is this?’

The moment their eyes met, his body suddenly felt heavy.

It was like falling into a transparent lake. It was so deep and clear that he could see the surface clearly, yet he couldn’t breathe and his limbs felt heavy.

The strange sensation returned to normal in an instant, but the shock that instant left was tremendous.

Cold sweat flowed down Dark Shadow’s forehead.

“Not bad.”

Guo Lao’s voice, like his gaze, evoked a clear and deep lake.

“Unlike me, he seems to have steadily trained his body. If nothing else, that one thing deserves high praise.”

“He’s tired of assassin work and wants to become a swordsman. How about it, does he seem to have talent?”

“Talent overflows. What’s important is the mind.”

“When Guo Lao says such things, even I get scared.”

Guo Lao’s mental strength alone was harder than steel.

Guo Lao approached three or four steps, leaning on his staff.

It was an ordinary walk, but Dark Shadow unconsciously stepped back two steps.

‘What, what? Why am I?’

His body was strange.

The moment he recognized that old servant’s presence, his body kept seeming to shrink.

Should he say he felt intimidated? Unlike Moyong Bi’s merciless killing intent, it felt like they were incompatible at the human compatibility level from the start.

Moyong Bi chuckled.

“This guy’s instincts are killer. How does he immediately recognize natural enemies?”

Guo Lao was an escort warrior called Yolyeong’s greatest loyal retainer. As a man who alone guarded the head of the Moyong Family Estate, called the leader of the Seven Great Families, his skills had to be tremendous.

His internal energy and swordsmanship were excellent enough to cut down Hwan Hwan Ma Nyeo, and especially against assassins, he was no different from invincible.

At that time, assassination organizations from all over the world sent killers to assassinate the Martial Alliance Leader’s brother, and most of them couldn’t break through Guo Lao alone and all became souls under the sword.

Guo Lao was so fearsome that the assassination world called him the Impenetrable Fortress.

A fortress that permits no one’s invasion. In other words, it meant a human wall.

“Escort warriors and assassins are like two sides of the same sword. They’re opposite yet share many things.”

“Young Master’s words are correct.”

“To properly return to active duty, don’t you need some of that bloody smell you handled back in the day? Teach this guy while finding your skills. It’ll bring back old memories and be good.”

“Understood.”

Moyong Bi looked at Dark Shadow and said.

“You followed my orders well.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I told you to guard the Main Family House while I was away.”

“Ah….”

“I read your traces on top of the Family Head’s Office building. When I checked last night, your clothes were incredibly cold. You must have kept watch in all directions without leaving your post for even a moment.”

Dark Shadow was greatly surprised. He never thought the Young Master would notice that.

“I liked that steadfastness of yours. It’s only first-grade quality for now, but since you started with decent quality stone, I should reward your hard work.”

“Y-Young Master.”

“Don’t be too moved. Guo Lao’s teachings will be hard to follow even for someone like you.”

Moyong Bi turned around.

“Don’t even think about learning martial arts from me until you hear the word ‘pass’ from Guo Lao’s mouth.”

“Thank you!”

With that, Moyong Bi left.

“….”

An awkward wind blew between the two men.

It was Guo Lao who broke the silence.

“Hehe, so you’re from an assassin background?”

“Yes? Ah… that’s right.”

“I see, so that’s how it is.”

Why was he asking when he already knew?

But asking again about something he already knew doubled the fear. Even as his spine grew cold, cold sweat poured down.

Guo Lao, who had been staring at Dark Shadow intently, asked in a calm voice.

“How was it?”

“What do you… mean?”

“How did it feel to guard the family estate continuously without anyone knowing? I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

Dark Shadow was perplexed. He thought he’d receive teachings, but suddenly a conversation?

“That is….”

“Don’t feel burdened and just tell me. I simply want to understand you better.”

Those words were even more frightening. But he couldn’t understand why they felt so scary.

Dark Shadow spoke haltingly.

“Actually… I didn’t have any particular thoughts.”

“You guarded without any thoughts?”

“I think I tried my best not to have distracting thoughts.”

“….”

“After the job was done, I just thought, ‘It’s finished.'”

Even after saying it, his face felt hot for no reason. Even he thought it was too plain an answer.

Unexpectedly, Guo Lao nodded with a smile.

“Good.”

“Yes?”

“When guarding, you shouldn’t have distracting thoughts. For the sake of the one you must protect, you should forget all useless things and focus only on guarding.”

“Ah….”

“Isn’t it similar when assassinating? There’s nothing needed except concentrating on eliminating the target. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t know if it’s an occupational hazard, but that concentration isn’t bad. You seem to have quite an innocent side too, unlike an assassin.”

“….”

“Now I understand why the Young Master called you steadfast.”

He seemed to like him quite a bit. Even in his confusion, Dark Shadow felt relieved.

Then, Guo Lao’s eyes changed.

“By the way, you targeted the Eldest Miss?”

Dark Shadow’s Adam’s apple bobbed mercilessly.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“…Hmm.”

At least he didn’t make excuses.

He just rolled his eyes around and sweated profusely, and though he looked somewhat anxious, the person himself didn’t seem bad.

Guo Lao chuckled.

“Since the Young Master said to forget everything and start fresh, I’ll also forget your deplorable past.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“By the way, is it okay if I speak casually?”

“Yes?”

“You’re the Young Master’s slave, right? I’m also a servant of the Main Family.”

“….”

“Why? Should I not speak casually?”

“No!”

Guo Lao laughed heartily.

“I’m not worthy of being anyone’s master, so just call me senior. That’ll do.”

“Please take care of me, Senior!”

“Good.”

A flood burst from Dark Shadow’s face as he bowed at a right angle.

A perfectly angled, intense greeting. The moment he called him senior, he had definitely become a slave.

But Dark Shadow didn’t realize he had stamped the slave document with a mixture of saliva and vocal cords.

Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have dared make a peep in front of Guo Lao.

“Shall we start by looking at your swordsmanship?”

“Yes!”

“It’s dangerous, so use a wooden sword.”

“…Yes.”

* * *

Moyong Bi, having left Dark Shadow with Guo Lao, headed straight to the dining hall.

Several Fire Sword Group members happened to be eating.

“Young Master, you’ve arrived!”

“You’ve arrived!”

Their faces were full of fatigue, but their voices overflowed with energy.

Moyong Bi waved his hand and said.

“Did you stand night watch until morning?”

“Yes!”

“You must be tired. Eat quickly and sleep.”

“No! We’re going to train!”

“What training when your eyes are all dark underneath? Does training work if you just push yourself recklessly?”

The squad members grumbled inwardly.

‘The Young Master told us to push ourselves to the limit.’

They thought that, but actually they weren’t unaware of what Moyong Bi’s words meant.

“Don’t eat too much before sleeping. Sleep well and then eat plenty.”

“Understood. Please enjoy your meal!”

“Indeed.”

Suk Su greeted him.

“Good morning, Young Master! Will you have the same thing today?”

“Well, I have the same thing for all three meals.”

“Haha, please wait just a moment. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Moyong Bi, seated in his chair, folded both hands and rested his chin on them.

‘How peaceful.’

He slowly closed his eyes.

He deliberately tried to become calm. Otherwise, the conversations he’d had with Guo Lao would come flooding back.

If that happened, it would be difficult to control his surging anger and killing intent, making even daily life impossible.

‘I’m the one who needs cultivation first.’

How much time had passed like that?

Thud!

“Huh?”

Moyong Bi opened his eyes at the sound of the table shaking and was startled. Moyong Su Hyang was sitting across from him before he knew it.

“What? When did you get here?”

“Just eat your food, you pig. Suk Su is calling for you and you’re just dozing off.”

“Ah, really?”

Moyong Bi shouted an apology to Suk Su and picked up his spoon.

“Haven’t you eaten either? Want to eat together?”

“Never mind that, just hurry up and eat so you can get up.”

“Why? Do you have something to talk about?”

Moyong Su Hyang frowned as she spoke.

“It’s about the Ranking Competition.”

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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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