Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 44
As Cheon So-hyun and Kang Hyun departed from their quarters to apply for participation in the martial tournament, Yi Ma-je began his training as usual, wooden sword in hand.
Striking downward, sweeping wide, thrusting forward again—his form of honing the blade while gradually increasing the burden through inner energy remained unchanged from any other day.
The only difference was that his senses remained heightened, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
‘Later than I anticipated.’
Since Kang Hyun had headed toward Yunryong Pavilion, the inner sanctum of Baek Myun Valley, it was now his turn to move.
How much time had elapsed in that manner?
Thud!
A faint tremor rippled through the courtyard as dust rose into the air.
“Spare me a moment.”
Do Je’s gaze turned toward Yi Ma-je, who sat in meditation upon the wooden platform.
“Ah, were you already expecting me?”
Yi Ma-je brushed away the dust with a casual gesture, then silently pointed to the opposite side.
There, a modest table laden with wine had been prepared.
Do Je dropped onto the platform with a thud and seized the wine bottle, pouring its contents directly down his throat—the pungent aroma of spirits wafting forth.
Yi Ma-je observed him quietly before speaking.
“The scent of blood clings heavily to you. Have you witnessed carnage?”
“There’s never just one fool attempting to sabotage another’s enterprise.”
Do Je exhaled deeply and addressed Yi Ma-je.
“Senior.”
“What troubles you?”
“How long have we known each other?”
“Let me see. I’ve watched you since your days as a member of Cheonrang-dae, so it must be well over twenty years by now.”
“Has it truly been that long? It’s enough to make one weary. In all that time, what manner of man have I appeared to you?”
Yi Ma-je studied Do Je. His expression had grown subtly tense in an uncharacteristic manner.
Understanding the reason for Do Je’s visit, his response was hardly incomprehensible. He voiced the thoughts he had long harbored.
“A figure worthy of emulation in many respects.”
“Emulation? Why? How did a man who once gnawed on tree bark rise to such heights?”
Yi Ma-je shook his head.
“That is not the whole of it. Building power through bare-handed martial prowess alone is certainly an impressive endeavor, yet what captured my attention was your fervor and motivation. It was remarkable how, even while consumed by your pursuit of gambling, you never abandoned your dedication to the martial way.”
Do Je let out a hollow laugh.
“Fervor? That’s absurd. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it, but within me burns a rage that flares like a thousand flames whenever I believe it has subsided. Whether it’s a fossilized anger from the past or some curse, it never truly extinguishes.”
“….”
“Throughout every waking moment, my nerves remain taut, my hand ever ready to grasp the blade. I desperately sought something—anything—to redirect that tension. First it was martial arts, then gambling. Eventually, I turned my gaze upward.”
“….”
“And so, after enduring such torment, I arrived at the position of The Demon Master and the title of Baek Myun Valley Lord. So why would you attempt to destroy it?”
“Don’t misinterpret my intentions. I harbor no desire to harm you.”
“Then why have you brought my disciple to this place?”
Yi Ma-je met his gaze unflinchingly in silence.
At this response, which amounted to affirmation, Do Je’s eyes flickered with an azure light.
Crack.
Before confronting the Third Prince, I had sensed a suspicious aura emanating from the group approaching Yunryong Pavilion.
A chilling presence that rang alarm bells in my mind, unsettling and discordant.
I had mistaken it for the aura of a descendant of the Cheon Family, but upon direct confrontation, I realized my error was complete.
“Whether time has faded my memory or my senses have dulled… I cannot believe I confused the two.”
Only today did I finally understand the reason.
That unpleasant aura I had detected belonged to Yi Ma-je’s disciple.
“It appears your disciple has mastered the Baek Myeon Gok technique. Isn’t that the bloodline of the Previous Left Envoy? Could this also be my mistake?”
Yi Ma-je answered calmly.
“It is not a mistake.”
“Then why! Why did you take him as a disciple? Did you decide that since you’ve already fallen from favor, you might as well betray the Sect? Do you truly not understand what it means to harbor the offspring of that family?”
“…”
“Have you forgotten the catastrophe that befell the Sect because of the Previous Left Envoy?”
Yi Ma-je shook his head.
“I remember. That the Previous Left Envoy had been in contact with the Central Plains and was discovered preparing to defect.”
I spat out the words.
“You must have forgotten—it wasn’t defection, it was apostasy.”
The Left Envoy of that time had offered no resistance, claiming it was merely a personal matter. Thanks to this, the family’s lineage was preserved, but because the Ninth Heavenly Demon declared he would solidify his authority, the Sect entered a prolonged period of closure.
A purge began to root out the faithless.
“Even the position of Gwangmyeong Messenger, which had at least allowed for candid speech, became hollow… chaos erupted. They suspected one another, and those blinded by merit seized even those ignorant of sedition in droves, fattening their coffers.”
This had occurred before Yi Ma-je and I began our earnest activities, yet the aftermath remained etched upon my very skin.
“Those who made their homes in the Outer City Wasteland… yes, those very people died without a sound. No noble purpose, no faith, no greater cause—nothing but rope around their necks.”
The table trembled faintly from the aura that leaked unbidden from me.
“The Previous Left Envoy was the source of that slaughter, and now his bloodline walks freely through Baek Myun Valley. How am I to accept this? Should I simply nod and move on if he claims he means no harm?”
“Well, without eyes as keen as yours, one would never notice at a glance. I’ve also instructed him not to display his martial arts carelessly.”
Yi Ma-je observed me, my eyes blazing with a cold, verdant light.
“And if we hold the sins of the previous generation against the descendants, then who in the Divine Sect would be without guilt?”
“…”
“The position of Gwangmyeong Messenger remained vacant until the current Cult Leader ascended. Even calling it the ‘previous’ generation—it was more than fifty years ago. To hold such a matter against a mere child barely past coming of age would be unjust.”
“Have you been grinding away in mountain valleys all this time, becoming a sage without my knowing? Aren’t all these words merely hollow rhetoric?”
Yi Ma-je nodded.
“True. Hollow rhetoric indeed. But wielding a blade against the destitute is something you, I, or even the common rabble outside who gamble day and night could accomplish.”
“…”
“The Demon Master should devote his efforts to more meaningful pursuits. Isn’t that why the Cult Leader placed us in these positions?”
At that lucid response, my pupils dilated sharply.
Had he ground away his tongue instead of his blade in the mountains? The eloquence of a man who once knew only martial arts felt profoundly unfamiliar.
“…I understand the meaning, but will such tedious words reach the believers?”
“…”
“Even granting a hundred times that your senior’s circumstances and Baek Myun Valley’s prestige are without issue, don’t you see that if rumors of the disciple’s family spread, the Third Prince’s intentions will be tarnished regardless?”
The turmoil that arose within me had multiple sources.
What mattered most to him was Baek Myun Valley, and there was an old debt of gratitude toward Yi Ma-je, whom he had maintained ties with through a singular resolve. Now, added to this was the Third Prince, who had recently piqued his interest. Multiple emotions tangled within him.
“What if we spread rumors that the Third Prince is entangled with lowborn blood and tramples upon the faithful’s aspirations? That blocking the Great Sect is merely for personal gain, that he’s completely lost his mind to demonic obsession?”
“….”
“If I’m to obstruct the Third Prince’s movements, I’d need to circulate such rumors first, but do you have a way to counter it? The truth will already be spreading before you can even explain yourself, won’t it?”
Do Je added with evident frustration.
“If you wanted to persuade him to oppose the Great Sect, you should have separated that brat from him first. Starting off this crippled, do you truly believe there’s a chance of victory?”
“That’s precisely why I’ve come to you.”
At this concise answer, Do Je’s brow furrowed. Did he have something in mind? Knowing that this man would not speak idle words, even in jest, he pressed further.
“You’re saying there’s a way?”
Yi Ma-je nodded and asked in return.
“What was your impression of the Third Prince?”
“He was provocative. He’s always entrusted his fate to the extreme, and I sensed that once he steps into this, there’s no turning back.”
“Then why did you set conditions?”
“No matter how dangerous it is, if there’s a chance of victory, diving in is gambling. I judged the potential gains would be substantial. I was certain that if the Third Prince possessed the qualifications, things would change.”
“That’s precisely why. I’ve already assessed his qualifications, and you’re merely confirming them now.”
At these meaningful words, Do Je let out a hollow laugh.
“What comes next then?”
“Are you hoping to be satisfied on the first taste?”
Do Je stared at him with a bewildered expression.
Glug glug.
Yi Ma-je lifted the wine bottle and filled Do Je’s cup, then filled his own.
The frivolous jest felt unfamiliar, yet it was not unpleasant. There had been a time when arranging even one grand gathering required scheduling months in advance.
“So you’ve been sharpening your tongue rather than your blade.”
For Do Je, a man fond of wine, this was far more agreeable.
Thus, as Do Je raised his cup, he began to listen to the story harbored in Yi Ma-je’s heart.
“Hmm.”
As the words continued, he was considerably surprised, and once he confirmed that despite its length, it was no mere fantasy, his interest deepened.
“Ja Gwi Moon, you say? The possibility is slim, but if matters flow in that direction, there may indeed be a way.”
Do Je wiped the corner of his mouth after emptying his cup.
“In any case, the Third Prince’s role is crucial… but I’ll proceed with assessing his qualifications entirely in my own manner. Both the Third Prince and that brat.”
“I can’t force you beyond that point. Do as you see fit.”
* * *
Four days later, in the Military Council Conference Room.
Fragrant exotic flowers and rare plants filled the air with their fresh verdancy, and in that cozy space furnished with simple refreshments and a place to rest one’s eyes, the murmur of scholars never ceased.
“Why haven’t we seen his face lately?”
“Whose face are you talking about?”
“Sa Ma-ryang’s. He took on the position of Inspector Chief and left, but there’s been no word since.”
“I hear he’s recuperating? They say he’s laid up at the Medical Authority.”
“Seven weeks have already passed, and he’s still there?”
“He chased the stork and tore his crotch. A man with no experience or ability wouldn’t feel the wall and give up, would he? He’s probably sprawled out using recuperation as an excuse.”
“Surely not? Though I heard he did accomplish quite a bit.”
Sa Ma-yu clicked his tongue.
“So should we say he accomplished nothing? Does it make sense for the Military Council’s Inspector Chief to show no results? Especially when a senior colleague accompanied him. If it failed, it wouldn’t just be his disgrace. Our reputation would suffer too.”
“True, that’s the case.”
“The thing is, anyone from our group would have achieved similar results. The evidence was so solid, wasn’t it? That’s why someone without proper credentials was given the Inspector Chief position. The Chief Military Commander knows everything about it too….”
“Good grief. You’re being awfully loud and annoying about this, really.”
At the irritated voice, the scholars’ heads snapped around. They looked quite flustered, having thought no one was there.
Sa Ma-chang emerged from the Rest Chamber, looking disheveled.
“I was trying to get some sleep, but what’s all this noise? Brother Yu, aren’t you working?”
At his irritable tone, Sa Ma-yu’s brow furrowed. While it was an awkward situation, Sa Ma-chang was his much younger brother.
“This isn’t a private gathering. Mind your words….”
“Ah, is that so? I thought this was a place where you’d loosen your belt and relax, gossiping about this person and that. I never expected that during work hours, you’d all gather cozily just to spread rumors about juniors. My apologies for the misunderstanding.”
Sa Ma-yu’s face flushed red.
“What, what did you just say?!”
“I’m saying don’t add your two cents when you don’t know the full story. This is supposed to be a place where educated gentlemen gather—let’s not do anything shameful.”
Sa Ma-chang let out a scoff and walked past them.
“If the superiors are willing to place even a monkey in an important position as long as they have the ability, why would they entrust the Inspector Chief position to someone incompetent?”
‘That, that bastard….’
Sa Ma-chang walked out, leaving the scholars flushed crimson behind him.
‘Why are they even talking about inspections when I’m not even an inspector in the first place.’
He’d been so busy lately that he’d barely managed to catch a few winks, and now his mood was completely ruined.
Just as Sa Ma-chang was leaving the Military Council Inner Chamber, his expression suddenly brightened.
“Well, I thought you’d forgotten your face. You’re back now?”
“Yes, my return was delayed more than expected. I apologize for the burden.”
It was Sa Ma-ryang. He wore a faint smile, though his complexion remained pallid.
“Never mind. Things don’t stop just because you’re gone. How’s your body?”
“I’ve recovered reasonably well.”
The image of him collapsing after completing the inspection was still fresh in Sa Ma-chang’s mind, so he spoke bluntly.
“Reasonably well, my foot. Don’t strain yourself unnecessarily—rest for a few more days.”
“No, I must fulfill my duties. First, could I hear the reports from the interim period?”
Sa Ma-chang let out a hollow laugh but proceeded to recount the details of the inspection.
“Right, you’d be curious. First….”
From Song Ryeong leading the members to apprehend the criminal, to uncovering Changeung Trading Company as the mastermind and sweeping them all up—he covered it all.
Then Sa Ma-chang added as if suddenly remembering something.
“Oh, and there’s one piece of information that might interest you. Recently, rumors have been spreading widely that the Third Prince is participating in gambling.”
“…Yes? Gambling?”

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