Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 88

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

Chapter 88. Pride and Justice (3)

“Huff!”

Moyong Su Hyang, startled awake by the sound of her own breathing, bolted upright.

“Die!”

As she sat up, she immediately threw a punch into empty air.

Whoosh!

The punch was quite fierce.

Even without using internal energy, this level of force could knock down a seven-foot giant in one blow.

“Huff! Huff! What, what is it?”

Looking around frantically, she realized this was her own room.

“What? What is this? When did I get here?”

As Moyong Su Hyang wracked her brain, she suddenly grimaced.

The last scene before her memory cut off came flooding back.

‘Hey! Breathe, breathe! You fool! Step back and catch your breath first! This bastard has lost his mind…!’

That damn Elder Brother approaching with a pale face.

Meanwhile, her wooden sword had completely broken so she swung both fists, but what was more infuriating was how he easily deflected them with one hand while approaching with concern.

“Ugh!”

Moyong Su Hyang plopped down on the floor and clutched her head.

“Damn it! How did I not land a single hit?!”

She really didn’t want to admit it, but that Elder Brother bastard’s martial arts were too strong.

If he had only dodged, she would have confronted him about cowardly evasion, but that wasn’t the case either.

Though not enough to knock her out in one blow, each attack was eerily painful.

Clearly he was going easy on her. But he wasn’t sparring carelessly either. Honestly, if not for her pride, she wouldn’t have lasted even a moment, let alone half a hour.

“I really can’t believe this. Why did it hurt so much? Did that bastard learn some torture technique?”

He had simply struck common areas with force.

Yet the pain I felt always exceeded expectations by about three times. Even when I braced myself for impact, each blow made my limbs tremble, preventing immediate response.

‘He must have poison on his fists. Otherwise it makes no sense.’

She lifted her arm and sniffed it.

Moyong Su Hyang wrinkled her nose.

“See? It smells, it really smells. That bastard, no matter what, to actually use poison…”

As she spoke, she felt her face flush hot.

Right. This smell wasn’t poison but old sweat.

“Ugh, disgusting.”

Having sweated buckets and slept in clothes that hadn’t dried properly, it would be harder for there not to be a smell.

Taking neatly folded fresh clothes, she hurried to the bathroom and scrubbed herself raw for half an hour.

The refreshed Moyong Su Hyang even took all the bed linens and washed them herself. She could have left it to others, but somehow felt embarrassed.

After completing all these tasks, the sun was already setting.

“Hmm, I wonder what Elder Sister is doing.”

I should go have dinner with Elder Sister.

Hurrying toward the Family Head’s Office, she spotted the training ground nearby.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Cough cough!”

“Ugh.”

Moyong Su Hyang unconsciously gaped like a fish.

The training ground was utterly devastated.

Everyone except Jin Gwang was collapsed on the floor gasping, and apparently they still had sweat to spare as it streamed down, soaking the ground.

Steam rose from their entire bodies, as if someone had poured hot water from the bathroom over them.

“What? You guys were still training?”

“Huh? Ah, Young Miss!”

“Are… are you okay? Your faces are all pale.”

“Are you alright, Young Miss?”

As the senior, Gwan Hyeon asked first. Of course, his voice was so weak it could be called a mosquito’s cousin.

“I’m fine. I slept soundly while unconscious.”

“We, we are not fine.”

“Well, I can see that…”

That’s why she said they weren’t fine, but Gwan Hyeon had no strength left to speak further.

Jin Gwang spoke.

“I already asked Suk Su to prepare meals. We’ll be able to move after resting just a bit longer, so please don’t worry too much, Young Miss.”

“Squad Leader, isn’t the training too excessive?”

“I didn’t push them.”

“What?”

“They trained on their own initiative. Several of them even fainted and woke up during the process.”

Moyong Su Hyang’s eyes widened.

“They even fainted?!”

“That’s right.”

“Wow, you’re all really amazing.”

A look of determination appeared on Moyong Su Hyang’s face as she clicked her tongue in admiration.

“People really need to be tough. I should increase my training amount starting tomorrow. I’ll learn from you guys.”

Bewilderment appeared on the squad members’ faces.

Increase training from that level?

“Are you going to the Family Head?”

“Yes. I thought we could eat together… Huh? But where is that bastard? Didn’t he train with you?”

“You mean Young Master?”

“Yes.”

Jin Gwang turned his head toward the main gate.

“He went to the marketplace to verify if the promise was real. He left about an hour ago.”

“What promise?”

“The nourishing food promise.”

* * *

“Oh? Namgung Gwan?”

Namgung Gwan, who had come to the marketplace unable to resist his younger brother’s nagging, turned his head.

His eyes widened.

“You are…?”

“It is you! My word, I thought it might really be you.”

The person approaching with a bright smile was a young man wearing quite fancy silk clothes. He had a slender build and held an elegantly folded fan in his hand, which suited him very well.

“Chung Ho.”

“Has it been a year? You look the same as ever.”

Jegal Chung Ho smiled broadly.

Namgung Gwan also smiled, but inwardly felt troubled.

‘To meet him here.’

Jegal Chung Ho was a descendant of the Hubei Jegal family and the direct second son of the family head.

“If you were coming, you should have at least sent word to us. How disappointing to act like this.”

Though he wondered if that was really disappointing, Namgung Gwan responded with learned composure.

“Sorry about that. I came in such a rush that I was out of sorts.”

“For someone who came in a rush, it’s four days before the competition?”

“So So kept urging me.”

“So So?”

“She’s over there. She’s completely absorbed in looking around the marketplace.”

Namgung Gwan pointed to the side with his chin.

Namgung So So was frantically looking around the street stalls. Sometimes she would pester the shopkeepers with detailed questions about what this or that was, but her face was so bright that no one found her bothersome.

Jegal Chung Ho burst into laughter.

“So So has grown even more.”

“Wait, I’ll call So So over.”

“Ah, it’s fine. Why ruin her good mood? She can greet us after she’s done looking around.”

He felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

‘I wish we could just part ways here…’

But that would indeed be difficult.

“Meeting like this must be heaven’s will. Let’s have a drink together.”

The grandiose mention of heaven’s will made his neck tense up.

“I’m fine.”

“Come now, what do you mean fine? You live so rigidly that So So just watches your mood.”

“So So does?”

“Isn’t she different now? When I saw her before, she was constantly watching your mood. She seemed to fear you more than the Family Head.”

His eyes were too sincere to dismiss it as a joke.

‘Is that so?’

Come to think of it, whenever I straightened up and spoke seriously, she would become obedient to my words.

“Anyway, let’s have a drink. What else are you going to do for four days in Wuhan besides sightseeing? Training in martial arts more at this point won’t help you win an unwinnable fight.”

“You don’t know that.”

“What don’t I know, you fool.”

That’s when it happened.

“Young Hero Jegal, aren’t you going to introduce me?”

“Oh! I was so distracted by meeting an old friend. Sorry, sorry.”

Scratching his head sheepishly while laughing, Jegal Chung Ho revealed a woman behind him.

Unlike Jegal Chung Ho’s somewhat flashy attire, the woman’s clothing was modest.

But those who knew would recognize it. That modest-looking outfit was actually extremely expensive. From the fabric to the stitching, it was a masterpiece that only a master craftsman could create.

Her appearance was also beautiful.

Gentle eyes and fair skin. She had the kind of looks that would earn her praise as a charming beauty anywhere she went.

“Let me introduce you. This friend here is the famous Namgung Gwan of the Namgung Clan, the champion of Anhui.”

The woman bowed her head slightly.

“I meet a descendant of the renowned Namgung family. I am Yi Yeon Ju of the Geumhwa Trading Company.”

Namgung Gwan also responded with a cupped fist salute.

“I greet you, Young Lady. I am Namgung Gwan.”

It was a greeting so plain it was almost stiff.

Yi Yeon Ju’s gentle eyes hardened slightly.

She had met countless people, but this was the first time someone had spoken so wall-like upon first meeting.

“Haha, this friend is naturally a bit stiff. Please understand, Young Lady.”

“Ah, yes.”

Meanwhile, he didn’t deny it.

Jegal Chung Ho’s lips fluttered like a bee’s wings.

“The Geumhwa Trading Company seems very interested in this sparring match. In fact, the sparring platform and spectator seats were newly built with investment from the Geumhwa Trading Company.”

“I see.”

“I happened to hear that this Young Lady was coming early. Since we were going the same way, we ended up traveling together.”

He sure talks a lot about things I’m not even curious about.

Namgung Gwan’s eyes turned toward behind Yi Yeon Ju.

Behind her stood one stern-looking middle-aged man and six other men in formation. Each possessed considerable aura.

Jegal Chung Ho interjected again.

“As expected of a swordsman, your eyes go straight there. Those are members of the Golden Sword Unit that the Geumhwa Trading Company is proud of.”

The military force possessed by the Geumhwa Trading Company, which was considered the best in Hubei Province, was considerable.

Among them, the Golden Sword Unit was said to be a force that boasted the power of a decent small to medium sect, with each member being skilled fighters no less than warriors from prestigious schools.

‘Indeed.’

Namgung Gwan nodded inwardly.

‘There are no gaps.’

He’d have to fight them to know their actual skill, but they were certainly people who had undergone considerable training.

Jegal Chung Ho clapped his hands.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s include this Young Lady and all have a drink together. Young Lady, is that alright?”

Yi Yeon Ju nodded silently.

On the other hand, Namgung Gwan’s face was colored with bewilderment.

“That’s…”

“Oh? Big Brother Jegal?!”

Just then, Namgung So So, who had finished her sightseeing, came running over excitedly.

“So So! How long has it been!”

“A whole year! Have you been well?”

“Haha! I’m always doing well, living like a vagabond!”

Namgung So So’s face brightened even more.

Namgung Gwan muttered to himself.

‘The fatigue will double.’

When these two people, who could be considered the strongest in the region for chattering, met, their momentum could pierce through clouds.

Indeed, in a short moment, Namgung So So’s speech became frighteningly fast. Her conversation with Jegal Chung Ho seemed that enjoyable.

Jegal Chung Ho, who had instantly gotten her to greet Yi Yeon Ju as well, patted Namgung Gwan’s shoulder.

“How about it? There’s a famous inn here called Yang Hwa Ru. Shall we go there?”

“Ah, sorry. Kang Suk is at our residence.”

“Kang Suk? Don’t tell me Hero Kang came too?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh, then it wouldn’t be proper for us to just slip away by ourselves. Let’s just go to where you’re staying. I’ll pay my respects to Hero Kang as well.”

The area under Namgung Gwan’s eyes grew increasingly dark.

“Respects… Yes, respects are important.”

“Where is it? Ah, is it that way? Let’s go! Young Lady, let’s go!”

Without even asking if they should go, Jegal Chung Ho and Namgung So So were already walking away.

Yi Yeon Ju, who glanced at Namgung Gwan, also silently followed the two.

Eventually, Namgung Gwan had to sigh deeply and follow them as well.

A moment later.

“Oh! So it’s true that a spiritual creature lives on Yongjoong Mountain?!”

“No one has seen it yet, but the traces are too clear. I’m thinking of going to find it myself when I have nothing else to do.”

“How nice! Is there nothing on our Hwang Mountain?”

“Hwang Mountain is the world’s greatest strange mountain! Hwang Mountain’s very existence is a spiritual creature!”

“Hehe, is that so?”

Before he could take a few breaths, the two people who poured out dozens of words revealed the Hwawung Inn ahead.

“Ah, here it is! We’re staying here!”

Yi Yeon Ju looked stunned.

Conversely, Jegal Chung Ho made a big fuss.

“Oho, truly extraordinary within the ordinary! Even the aura flowing out is unusual!”

“Right? As expected, Big Brother Jegal knows something…”

That’s when it happened.

“Innkeeper! One more bowl here!”

“Coming right up!”

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