My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 168

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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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Episode 168. And So It Was
At Manma Palace, as Yeo Un-hwi ascended to the position of the new Heavenly Demon and Sa Dae Ho Beop and the Divine Maiden Wi Seol-lin swore their genuine allegiance to him,
“Ah, Father!”
Gwak Heo-won, the Second Son, had just arrived at Bong Seon Palace along with his retainers, and they were reeling in shock.
They had discovered the corpses of Sect Master Gwak Cheon-hu and the Ten Demon Fortresses.
For a long while they stood motionless in that place, their minds blank.
“It can’t be…….”
It was beyond belief.
How could such a thing even happen?
They knew better than anyone the strength of Gwak Cheon-hu and the Ten Demon Fortresses, so the scene unfolding before their eyes simply defied comprehension.
Gwak Cheon-hu was even one of the Twelve Supremes.
And yet…….
He could not even begin to imagine what could have transpired in this place during his absence.
Had assassins infiltrated?
But no trace of their force could be found, no matter how carefully one searched.
It was as though not mortal enemies but divine punishment had descended from the heavens themselves.
Truly, it was a spectacle that would make even ghosts weep.
Gwak Heo-won’s face twisted with profound confusion as he struggled to know what to do.
What was he to do about this?
“Second Son. This is an opportunity.”
Then Cheong Jook Gwi Ma, who had long served as the Second Son’s close aide and strategist, opened his mouth.
Gwak Heo-won looked as though he did not understand, and spoke back.
“An opportunity?”
“Yes. Was it not true that in the Sub-Sect Master succession contest, the Sect Master did not favor the Third Son? We were in a most disadvantageous position.”
“That… was true.”
It was an accurate assessment.
That very fact had been choking the breath from Gwak Heo-won of late, and so he had absented himself for a time, hoping to steady his mind and gather what resolve he could.
And had he lost the Sub-Sect Master contest as things stood, it would not have been long before the Second Son and all who followed him would have been purged entirely.
That was how it had always been.
But now this catastrophe had struck.
“We do not know who these assassins are, what force they serve, or what transpired here—but they appear to have left for now. You must contain and settle this situation as swiftly as possible. And at this moment, only you can do it, Second Son.”
“How am I to contain this? A situation like this?”
Gwak Heo-won wrinkled his brow as he spoke back.
Then words that could scarcely have been imagined tumbled unbidden from Cheong Jook Gwi Ma’s lips.
“You assume the position of Sect Master at once.”
“I… myself?”
At these words, Gwak Heo-won’s eyes widened beyond measure.
Yet Cheong Jook Gwi Ma nodded, his expression more earnest than ever.
“Indeed. Who else could there be but you, Second Son?”
With Sect Master Gwak Cheon-hu now dead so suddenly, this was not a moment to quibble over who would become Sub-Sect Master.
The position of Sect Master was now vacant, and it would fall to either you or the Third Son.
Whoever moved first would have the advantage.
Fortunately, the Third Son had already left with the Ten Demon Fortresses, bound for Hebei.
This was nothing less than an opportunity heaven itself had granted.
One had to act as quickly as possible.
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma spoke again, his eyes blazing.
“Second Son. I beg you—turn this crisis into opportunity. You must not let it slip away.”
At words he had never once considered, Gwak Heo-won’s face grew uncertain.
I become Sect Master?
Not in some distant future, but now—overtaking that accursed younger brother of mine?
His body trembled without his knowing it.
The mere thought sent a thrill through him.
How long had he waited for such a moment? How very long.
Soon a hunger kindled in Gwak Heo-won’s eyes.
His face was anything but that of a man who had just lost his father.
But before that, one thing gave him pause.
“What if those four of the Ten Demon Fortresses who left with my brother decide to stand against me?”
“It was the principle that the Ten Demon Fortresses remain neutral in the Sub-Sect Master succession contest, so they have maintained a position of neutrality thus far.”
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma continued, as though this was no cause for concern.
“Naturally, they will wish to serve whoever treats them well and offers them more. So you need only prepare gifts for them beforehand.”
Not merely elixirs or gold and silver treasures, but humans who could satisfy their cruel and filthy tastes as well. Provide all of that, and the matter will be settled.
“If that happens, by the time the Third Young Master’s faction returns and understands what has transpired, the outcome will already be decided. I say again—this is an opportunity Heaven has granted us. You must seize it.”
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma’s face had grown flushed with excitement.
Long ago, he had staked his entire life on the Second Young Master, Gwak Heo-won.
So whether Gwak Heo-won lived or died, he had to walk that path alongside him.
But Gwak Heo-won becoming the Sect Master?
In that moment, Cheong Jook Gwi Ma’s own life would surely transform as well.
And so this instant was a golden opportunity for him too.
“Yes. That’s exactly it.”
Soon the man who had lost his father and stood bewildered vanished, replaced by an ambitious schemer wearing a greedy smile.
The worst of circumstances had reversed itself.
Just as his subordinate had said, matters seemed certain to come to pass.
There was no reason left to hesitate any further.
“Excellent!”
Gwak Heo-won addressed his subordinates with a gravitas unlike before.
“From this moment forward, I shall personally ascend to the position of Sect Master!”
“We pay our respects to the Sect Master!”
“Ha! Yes, yes!”
All who had followed Gwak Heo-won now wore faces swollen with triumph.
They did not know.
That both the Third Young Master who had gone to Hebei and all the Ten Demon Fortresses were already no longer among the living.
And perhaps, in the chaos of the moment, their eyes had grown dim.
They did not see.
The Heavenly Path rippling gently overhead in golden light.
It was then.
Rumble.
A heavy sound echoed from somewhere.
A secret door that had never been seen before appeared on one wall of Bong Seon Palace.
And shortly after, a group emerged from within.
‘Strange. Was there a secret door like that here?’
Gwak Heo-won’s face showed bewilderment.
He regarded the newly appeared group with caution.
But that vigilance did not last long.
Because he spotted the Holy Maiden, Wi Seol-lin, among them.
Seeing her face bright with satisfaction, Gwak Heo-won’s expression crumpled.
It seemed that while the Sect Master, his father, had been slain by some unknown party and the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s main hall fell into ruin, Wi Seol-lin had hidden herself and her people to preserve their lives.
This fact displeased him greatly.
“Holy Maiden. How fortunate that you survived.”
When Wi Seol-lin saw Gwak Heo-won and his group bursting into Bong Seon Palace, her face hardened coldly at once.
The bloodline of Gwak Cheon-hu were all without exception arrogant, treacherous, and cruel.
Naturally, Gwak Heo-won was no different.
Gwak Heo-won did not recognize Yeo Un-hwi and Sa Dae Ho Beop as enemies.
He sensed no particularly impressive presence emanating from them.
And it was impossible for him to know every warrior in the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s main hall.
So he walked toward Wi Seol-lin without the slightest fear.
To hear what had transpired in this place.
– Who is he?
– The deceased Sect Master’s second son.
For some reason, Yeo Un-hwi posed the question not aloud but through voice transmission, and the Holy Maiden responded in kind.
– It seems the Sect Master had quite a few children.
– They fought amongst their own flesh to become Sub-Sect Master. And now only I remain alive among the survivors.
Ordinarily, if the Sect Master’s succession had not shifted in some extraordinary way, the position would be passed to one of his children.
But watching it was horrifying to behold.
The Sect Master’s own bloodline killing one another, again and again.
And in the end, whoever survived longest became the Sub-Sect Master.
In this generation, there had been nine candidates total, and two had survived until the end: the Second Young Master Gwak Heo-won and the Third Young Master Gwak Un-do.
In the end, Gwak Un-do lost his life at Yeo Un-hwi’s hand, and now Gwak Heo-won alone remained.
Yet even so, Gwak Heo-won, who had not yet become Sub-Sect Master, could not speak to the Holy Maiden with disrespect.
But Gwak Heo-won wore a confident expression.
As Gwak Heo-won stood face to face with the Holy Maiden, Cheong Jook Gwi Ma, who had been standing behind him, spoke.
“Now that the Second Young Master has taken the seat of Sect Master, show proper courtesy.”
At his words, the divine maiden’s brow furrowed.
“What do you mean? I understood the Second Young Master hadn’t even become Sub-Sect Master yet—how has he suddenly become Sect Master?”
“The Sect Master has passed, so naturally the heir, the Second Young Master, becomes Sect Master in his place. Or are you daring to object to this matter?”
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma released his aura menacingly, trying to intimidate Wi Seol-lin.
Gwak Heo-won then extended his hand to stop him.
“The maiden is surely startled—let that be enough.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
Watching the two of them, Wi Seol-lin felt no urge to smile.
Soon Gwak Heo-won spoke to her, forcing his voice into a grave tone.
“Everything else is settled. Now speak.”
“Speak of what?”
“What happened here while I was away.”
When the divine maiden stared at him in silence, Gwak Heo-won let out a derisive snort.
“Why do you not speak? Are you ashamed of hiding alone to survive?”
…….
“Truly a stiff woman, aren’t you. Well. Your position was a weighty one. Good. From today, I shall give you a different role—attending to me at night, that is. Once you rest in my arms, courage to speak will come to you. Tsk tsk.”
Gwak Heo-won’s eyes gleamed with avarice as he raked them up and down Wi Seol-lin’s form.
Wi Seol-lin trembled with shame.
That was when—
“I cannot stand to hear more.”
Yeo Un-hwi, who had been silently observing the situation until now, stepped forward.
At the sight of him, Gwak Heo-won’s face twisted.
“What? How dare a mere warrior speak when I, the Sect Master, am talking.”
“Sect Master, I will handle this.”
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma came forward.
“Sever all four of his limb meridians and throw him out as food for the dogs.”
“Yes, I shall obey your command.”
Cheong Jook Gwi Ma grinned as he approached Yeo Un-hwi.
And then—
“That so?”
Yeo Un-hwi let out a soft laugh.
And then,
Boom—
In an instant, an overwhelming pressure erupted as four enormous auras shot skyward.
“You dared show disrespect to the Heavenly Demon.”
“Such a crime deserves death.”
And suddenly all of Gwak Heo-won’s subordinates, including Cheong Jook Gwi Ma, collapsed to the ground.
Their throats had been severed cleanly—they hadn’t even seen the blade fall.
“Gahhhhh!”
Gwak Heo-won’s eyes went wide as saucers.
Four figures—two men and two women—who had been behind Wi Seol-lin were now surrounding him.
The aura emanating from them made Gwak Heo-won’s eyes bulge.
It was power that rivaled his father’s, the Heaven-Breaking Demon Emperor Gwak Cheon-hu.
And there were four of them.
It was unbelievable.
But what alarmed him even more was—
‘The—the Heavenly Demon? A Heavenly Demon?’
He had heard it clearly—those words.
Only then did Gwak Heo-won notice the Heavenly Path above in the ceiling.
The Heavenly Path, its golden flames flickering brilliantly.
Gwak Heo-won gazed at Yeo Un-hwi with trembling eyes.
And Yeo Un-hwi, meeting his gaze with cold eyes, spoke.
“I was watching to see if you were worth making a puppet of, but it seems you fall short even of that.”
At those words, all color drained from Gwak Heo-won’s face.
He understood now, far too late, that something had gone catastrophically wrong.
Though by then, there was nothing left to do.

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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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