The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 101
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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 101.
Dang Gon’s face contorted as though he had eaten spoiled food.
“Father wishes for me to become the Family Head?”
“Indeed.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Dang Gon laughed weakly and shook his head.
“That cannot be. You say this even after seeing the tournament bracket?”
Bu Eunseol, observing Dang Gon’s slumped shoulders, drained a cup of wine before speaking.
“Let me ask you this. How does Dang Ryeong’s martial prowess compare to Dang Bi’s?”
“As you know, my eldest brother has always been frail. Even if he exerted himself fully, he could not match Dang Bi—nor could he properly contend with me.”
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
At that smile, Dang Gon felt oddly reassured yet simultaneously displeased.
“What is so amusing?”
“It seems to me that you have been showered with so much affection that you fail to recognize it.”
“Affection? Are you drunk?”
Bu Eunseol set down her cup and spoke.
“Dang Bi will never defeat Dang Ryeong.”
“What do you mean? Dang Bi cannot defeat my eldest brother?”
“And Dang Ryeong will use the Combat Stage as a pretext to kill Dang Bi. Most likely.”
“My eldest brother kill Dang Bi? Ha ha ha…”
Dang Gon burst into absurd laughter and gulped down the wine in his cup.
“That is the most ridiculous jest I have heard in my life.”
Dang Gon, staring directly into Bu Eunseol’s clear eyes, shook his head in disbelief.
“My eldest brother has been sickly since childhood with weak lungs. He has barely cultivated martial arts, devoting himself only to scholarship. How could he possibly defeat Dang Bi?”
“Have you personally confirmed that he does not cultivate martial arts?”
Dang Gon shook his head with a hollow smile.
“Well… my brother is always shut away in his study, so there is no way for me to know.”
“Dang Ryeong is strong. Stronger than you or Dang Bi.”
Upon seeing the certainty in Bu Eunseol’s eyes, Dang Gon felt as though something ominous was stalking him from behind.
“Could it be that my eldest brother has been deceiving everyone all this time?”
“Yes.”
Dang Gon fell silent for a moment.
Bu Eunseol’s strength had already reached the pinnacle realm. With such insight, she could surely perceive what he did not.
“Why? Why would my eldest brother do such a thing?”
Dang Gon, barely collecting himself, asked. Bu Eunseol answered calmly.
“Because a brilliant mind coupled with ambition is a dangerous thing.”
“….”
“Such men always conceal their true nature until their objectives are achieved.”
Bu Eunseol, who had long been preparing the bodies of the dead in the guest quarters.
During all that time, he had heard from Bu Chanyang about the multitude of human affairs and their desires and schemes.
And those stories had granted Bu Eunseol knowledge and insight superior even to an elderly man who had lived seventy years.
“Even if everything you say is true… there’s no reason for my brother to kill Dang Bi.”
As Dang Gon shook his head, Bu Eunseol picked up his wine cup again.
“I didn’t say he would kill only Dang Bi.”
After draining the cup in one gulp, he spoke in a heavy voice after a long silence.
“He will kill you as well.”
“Why… why would my eldest brother kill me?”
“He has lived all this time concealing his true self, exercising restraint for years. Do you think he would feel at ease with such a person as his successor?”
Bu Eunseol wore a smile tinged with killing intent.
“He will eliminate every potential source of instability. Otherwise, all the years he has endured would come to nothing.”
“Why would my eldest brother see us as sources of instability?”
Bu Eunseol gazed down at his empty cup and spoke.
“Dang Ryeong is weak in body, as the name suggests. Conversely, the two of you possess the qualifications to become the next Family Head at any time. Of course, Dang Cheong would be an exception.”
Dang Gon let out a sound like a groan.
“Even if everything you say is true, what can be done? Father opened the Combat Stage tournament, not a slaughter.”
Bu Eunseol chuckled softly.
“Unforeseen accidents cannot be prevented. No one in this world can stop them.”
Dang Gon fell silent.
Though he possessed a poisonous heart, he simply could not match Bu Eunseol when it came to reading people or devising schemes.
“The way you speak suggests you have a countermeasure for this as well. Is that not so?”
“Of course.”
Dang Gon asked eagerly.
“What method?”
Bu Eunseol shook his head and his eyes gleamed.
“Before that, tell me everything you know about Dang Ryeong. Even the smallest details.”
* * *
Within Soo Woon Gak, at the Small Training Ground.
There, Dang Bi, stripped to the waist, was hurling poisoned needles and projectiles at wooden blocks arranged on all sides.
Whoosh! Whip! Crack!
With each extension of his arm, tremendous force and poison poured forth.
Each time his hand brushed against the leather pouch at his waist, dozens of poisoned needles embedded themselves into the wooden blocks.
“Hehehehe… hahahaha!”
The laughter of Dang Bi, who had ceased his movements, echoed throughout the space.
“So Father had marked me as the successor all along.”
After Dang Pae’s declaration that the successor would be chosen as the victor of the Combat Stage tournament, Dang Bi had been in high spirits, diligently honing his martial skills.
None could match him in martial prowess. He believed the tournament was merely a scheme for his father to select him.
“Phew.”
After washing his body clean, he headed toward his chambers with a smile on his face.
And just as he was about to lie down on his bed in good spirits,
“You live a more disciplined life than I expected.”
Before I knew it, the Masked Assassin sat across from me at the table, dressed in night clothes, his posture relaxed and unhurried.
“Who are you?”
Dang Bi—a man whose temperament was so volatile that even calling him hot-headed would be an understatement.
Yet now he showed remarkable restraint, his demeanor cautious and measured.
The reason was clear: the Masked Assassin before me had infiltrated the Inner Quarters, where the Dang Family’s elite masters moved about freely.
Moreover, he had entered the Soo Woon Gak at the very heart of the compound alone—a feat that told Dang Bi this was a master far beyond his ability to challenge.
‘There’s nothing to gain by provoking someone of superior skill.’
“Who am I, you ask?”
The Masked Assassin had deliberately altered his voice, speaking in a deliberately rough and low tone.
“I am the one who will save your life.”
“Save my life?”
Instead of answering, the Masked Assassin set down a large wooden chest he had been carrying on his back.
“What is that?”
“Something that will preserve your life.”
The Masked Assassin slid the large chest toward the bed where Dang Bi stood.
“You must use it without fail during the Combat Stage tournament in two days.”
“This is….”
As Dang Bi opened the chest, his eyes widened in disbelief.
“It was you.”
With an irritated expression, Dang Bi pushed the chest back toward the Masked Assassin’s feet.
“Hmph, I don’t need this. Take it back with you.”
And he regarded the Masked Assassin with incomprehension.
“Even if your martial prowess is formidable, this is the Inner Quarters. No matter how skilled, one cannot infiltrate alone—how did you even get in here?”
“Because I can suppress my killing intent.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Masked Assassin waved his hand dismissively.
“In any case, if you don’t use this, you will die.”
The Masked Assassin spoke in his low, rough voice.
“He has been concealing his true strength all this time. Moreover, he intends to use the Combat Stage tournament as a pretext to kill you completely.”
“He wants to kill me? Why?”
“Because eliminating you ensures his position as successor will never be threatened.”
“Hahahaha! You speak nonsense. Surely you’ve heard that my brother and I are on good terms, you fool?”
As Dang Bi laughed heartily, the Masked Assassin’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Then, in his low voice, he spoke to Dang Bi at length, sharing several crucial pieces of information.
Once the Masked Assassin had finished, he spoke to Dang Bi once more.
“Whether you believe me or not is your choice.”
After listening for a long while, Dang Bi finally furrowed his brow and cried out.
“You continue to spout nothing but lies—”
His irritated outburst ceased abruptly, and he fell silent.
By then, the Masked Assassin had vanished completely.
“….”
Dang Bi, staring at the wooden armor left behind, spoke in a low voice.
“Don’t make me laugh. You madman.”
Dang Bi let out a cold snort and shoved the wooden armor toward the corner of the room.
* * *
At last, the Combat Tournament to determine the Dang Family’s successor had begun.
The Training Grounds, installed in the Eastern Martial Ground of the Inner Quarters, was filled with all the direct bloodline members of the Dang Family.
And in the place overlooking the Martial Arts Arena, a canopy and chair had been set up so that Dang Pae, the Family Head, could observe the combat comfortably.
“Then, let us now commence the Combat Tournament to select the successor!”
Dang Sung, standing on the Combat Stage, spoke in a low voice.
Since this was merely a martial arts competition among Dang Pae’s four direct children, the spectators consisted only of the elders and direct bloodline members of the Inner Quarters, with the exception of the specially invited Bu Eunseol and Heuk Pyo, and the atmosphere was solemn.
“First, Dang Ryeong and Dang Bi. You two, please ascend the Combat Stage.”
At Dang Sung’s words, Dang Ryeong and Dang Bi, who had been waiting on either side, slowly climbed onto the Combat Stage.
“Brother.”
Dang Bi spoke calmly as he observed Dang Ryeong, whose complexion was pallid and whose sickly appearance was evident.
“What good would it do for us to test our martial arts against each other?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your body is weak, and even a moment of vigorous movement leaves you breathless, does it not? Why not simply concede?”
As Dang Bi spoke respectfully with clasped hands, Dang Ryeong wore a thin, withered smile.
“Has my body been like this for only a day or two? There is no need to concern yourself.”
Then Dang Sung raised his hand and shouted loudly.
“Begin!”
“Then, brother. I shall go easy on you!”
As the match commenced, Dang Bi extended both palms with a sharp shout.
It was not the Dang Family Secret technique of Five Poison Flower Technique, but the Thousand Poison Mist Heart Palm.
Whirrrr!
Dozens of palm shadows cascaded in curves around Dang Ryeong’s body.
Though Dang Bi possessed a fierce temperament, his talent in martial arts was considerable.
The scattering palm shadows carried thick inner energy, and there were no flaws in his stance as he executed and withdrew his techniques.
Swish swish swish swish.
Unable to find a way to counterattack, Dang Ryeong unfolded his footwork to evade the cascading palm images.
Yet Dang Bi subtly altered his techniques as if he had anticipated Dang Ryeong’s every movement.
Thud.
Dang Ryeong, barely finding an escape route and retreating, gasped heavily.
“Haa. Haa.”
Beads of sweat already streamed down his forehead.
Dang Bi’s attacks appeared at first glance to be devastating strikes meant to destroy Dang Ryeong’s body, but in reality, they were techniques designed to force him to raise both hands in defeat.
“Will you concede?”
Dang Bi, having paused the Thousand Poison Mist Heart Palm, asked in a leisurely voice.
“Continue.”
“Elder Brother. From this point forward, I will deploy my vacuum technique at full speed. I must conserve my stamina for the next match. Do you understand what I mean?”
“A sound strategy.”
When Dang Ryeong showed no sign of retreating, Dang Bi exhaled a heavy sigh.
“Elder Brother. Do not fault me for the cruelty of my hands.”
Despite his ferocious nature, he had always relied upon and revered the perpetually gentle Dang Ryeong.
Had it been otherwise, he would have already deployed the Five Poison Flower Technique to devastate Dang Ryeong in shameful defeat.
“Here I come!”
Drawing his inner energy to its absolute limit, Dang Bi unfurled the Heavenly Poison Heartless Palm once more.
Yet for all his words, Dang Bi did not deploy the vacuum technique or the Five Poison Flower Technique—he merely unleashed the Heavenly Poison Heartless Palm of the Twelve Stars.
Whoooosh!
The palm strikes cascaded down like a tidal wave, their force linked together in an unbroken chain that completely encircled Dang Ryeong’s body.
Dang Ryeong moved swiftly, yet the Heavenly Poison Heartless Palm had already sealed every possible avenue of escape.
“Elder Brother!”
From a distance, Dang Gon cried out loudly.
“Concede defeat!”
If he did not acknowledge his defeat, the dozens of palm strikes unleashed by Dang Bi would pummel Dang Ryeong’s body like a drum.
Flash!
Yet suddenly, a brilliant radiance bloomed from Dang Ryeong’s hand.
“Aahhh!”
In that same instant, Dang Bi let out a agonized scream and collapsed to the ground.
“Impossible.”
Every member of the Dang Family present in the arena widened their eyes in shock.
Embedded in the center of Dang Bi’s chest, directly over his vital point, was a sharp hidden blade.
“One move… Life Seizing?”
Dang Sung, standing at the edge of the Combat Stage, gasped in astonishment.
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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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