The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 102

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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 102.
One Water Escape Name.
Among the Eight Great Secrets of the Dang Family, it was the most difficult extreme-grade secret martial art to master.
Yet how could the frail Dang Ryeong possibly be learning such a technique?
“My apologies.”
Dang Ryeong, surveying the silent arena, spoke toward Dang Pae in the Spectator Seating.
“The Second’s attack was so overwhelming that I inadvertently unleashed this martial art.”
Perhaps because a grave incident had occurred at the Combat Stage tournament he had proposed?
Despite the sudden calamity, Dang Pae’s expression remained utterly unmoved as he sat in the Spectator Seating.
“How is it that you can wield One Water Escape Name?”
Everyone in the Dang Family believed Dang Ryeong had abandoned his martial training.
They had assumed his visit to the Secret Cave was merely perfunctory, yet here he was, having mastered One Water Escape Name—a technique so notoriously difficult that even practicing it was considered nearly impossible?
At Dang Sung’s question, Dang Ryeong replied with an awkward expression.
“In the past, I witnessed Father display it against Heo Juk, the Poison Hand Flyer, and I so admired that martial technique that I chose to learn it myself.”
There had been an occasion when Dang Ryeong and Dang Pae ventured beyond the Murim, during which Heo Juk—a rival and master of the Evil Sect—had ambushed Dang Pae.
At that moment, while seated in a carriage, Dang Pae had dispatched Heo Juk in a single breath, employing One Water Escape Name.
—Hmm.
The clan members throughout the arena all wore expressions of shock. Dang Ryeong had perfectly mastered a Dang Family secret technique.
“Ahem.”
Dang Sung, standing on the Combat Stage, cleared his throat and glanced toward Dang Pae.
His son had just died a gruesome death at the tournament—surely this event should be suspended?
“Ugh.”
At that moment, accompanied by a groan, Dang Bi—who had been sprawled on the Combat Stage after being struck by the flying blade—staggered to his feet.
“How is this possible…?”
Dang Sung nearly fainted at the sight of Dang Bi rising. The same shock seized Dang Ryeong, who had unleashed One Water Escape Name.
Glint.
As he withdrew the flying blade embedded in his chest, something gleamed between the torn edges of Dang Bi’s garments.
“Silver Armor Plate?”
Astonishingly, Dang Bi had been wearing the Silver Armor Plate—a treasure of the Dang Family that had been bestowed upon Dang Gon—beneath his robes.
‘So that person’s words were true.’
Dang Bi stared intently at the Masked Assassin Bu Eunseol below the Combat Stage, the one who had sought him out days prior.
* * *
“Hahahaha! The First Brother has perfectly mastered one of the Dang Family secrets?”
Upon hearing the Masked Assassin Bu Eunseol’s words, Dang Bi burst into hollow laughter.
“Indeed.”
“Don’t be absurd. Brother abandoned martial training long ago.”
“Then I ask you this: if he abandoned martial training, why did he enter the Secret Cave?”
“What?”
“Would someone so clever waste time for no purpose?”
Bu Eunseol had heard from Dang Gon every detail of information he possessed regarding Dang Ryeong.
And he heard that Dang Ryeong had entered the Secret Cave where the Dang Family Secret Technique was kept, and remained there for a full ten days.
In that moment, Bu Eunseol deduced that Dang Ryeong had mastered the Dang Family Secret Technique, and by now should have reached a level where he could wield it with proficiency.
“The madman.”
Dang Bi scoffed dismissively.
“If my older brother had truly mastered the Dang Family Secret Technique, why hasn’t he used it until now? My martial arts are weak, and I’ve endured countless insulting remarks from members of other families because of it.”
“He doesn’t have a dull mind like you do.”
“What did you say?”
“A beast reveals its sharp fangs only when it hunts.”
Bu Eunseol pushed the wooden box containing the silver armor plating beneath Dang Bi’s feet once more.
“Whether you believe it or not is your choice.”
With those words, Bu Eunseol departed.
That day, Dang Bi did not believe any of it. Yet the silver armor plating was a treasure that protected one’s body.
Thinking it was better to be safe than sorry, he donned the silver armor plating and ascended the Combat Stage.
“My older brother would use such a vicious poison against me.”
Dang Bi trembled with betrayal as he stared at the deep marks left on the silver armor plating.
“Eldest brother. How could you do this to me!”
To Dang Bi’s anguished cry, Dang Ryeong spoke in a cold voice.
“Second brother. The Main House is built upon blood.”
“Eldest brother!”
“Do you know why only Uncle Dang Sung remains among Father’s brothers?”
Madness gleamed in Dang Ryeong’s eyes.
“The rest would surely betray. It is the tradition of the Main House to cut down the seeds of betrayal before they take root.”
Dang Bi knew this truth well enough.
But he had believed that his relationship with Dang Ryeong was different. No matter how much they bickered, Dang Ryeong had always maintained a gentle demeanor.
“Even if I become the family head, I thought I could get along well with you, eldest brother!”
At Dang Bi’s cry, Dang Ryeong shook his head.
“Is that so? But I had always planned to eliminate you once I became the family head.”
“What?”
“You are ambitious and foolish. Surely one day you would rebel, using my weak body as an excuse.”
Dang Ryeong pointed to Dang Gon standing in the distance.
“The third brother once knew his place, but… things are different now.”
Dang Bi’s eyes had lost all focus.
‘Was it always like this?’
The face of Dang Ryeong he had known was nothing but a mask he had crafted.
The real Dang Ryeong was not only ruthlessly cold-hearted but also an ambitious schemer of great ambition.
“You truly are the perfect candidate to be the family head of the Main House.”
“I appreciate your recognition. So, will you give up?”
“Hahaha.”
Dang Bi suddenly burst into laughter and spoke.
“Now I understand why Father forced me to cultivate a poisonous heart. It was because he knew all too well your dark nature, eldest brother.”
Thud.
Dang Bi tore off his upper garment and cast aside the silver scale armor he had been wearing, baring his teeth.
“If I concede, you will easily crush Dang Gon and ascend to the position of family head.”
A cold, murderous gleam flowed from his eyes.
“Unfortunately, that plan will not come to pass.”
Whoooosh.
A sickly green poison aura began to emanate from Dang Bi’s body.
At last, he had unleashed the Five Poison Flower Technique, one of the Dang Family’s secret arts.
‘This is… troublesome.’
Dang Ryeong exhaled a long breath as he observed Dang Bi’s transformation.
‘The original plan was for Dang Bi to fall instantly under the Instant Escape Blade. But…’
Dang Ryeong’s gaze shifted to Dang Gon standing in the distance, and to Bu Eunseol at his side.
A smirk.
When Bu Eunseol’s eyes met his and a smile played at her lips, fury began to boil within him.
‘That woman orchestrated this.’
Even if Dang Gon possessed poison aura, he lacked cunning. The silver scale armor had undoubtedly been Bu Eunseol’s scheme.
‘Regardless, I must finish Dang Bi quickly.’
Dang Ryeong glanced down at the hidden blade concealed in his sleeve.
The Instant Escape Blade—a technique of absolute precision—but Dang Bi had already experienced this method once. A perfect ambush would be far more difficult now.
‘To deal with Dang Bi, who has mastered the Five Poison Flower Technique to its peak…’
Click.
Dang Ryeong drew the chain sword hidden at his waist.
‘I must use the Sun and Moon Sword Technique instead of the Instant Escape Blade!’
“Haaah!”
At that moment, Dang Bi’s muscular frame, pouring forth the Five Poison Flower Technique, lunged forward.
Dang Ryeong, watching his approach, unleashed the Sun and Moon Sword Technique with all his might, chain sword in hand.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
The rigid chain sword pierced deep into Dang Bi’s chest. He had barely missed the heart, yet it was a mortal wound from which full recovery seemed impossible.
And Dang Bi’s hand had nearly reached Dang Ryeong’s shoulder.
His shoulder had taken the full brunt of the poisoned palm strike, saturated with the Five Poison Flower Technique.
“Even with the Void Palm, I cannot match you, brother.”
Dang Bi gazed down at the blade embedded in his chest and fell to his knees.
Thud.
As Dang Bi collapsed, Haeng Rim and his attendants, who had been standing ready, hurried to carry him away.
“The victor is Dang Ryeong!”
Despite witnessing this brutal contest, Dang Sung’s voice remained unchanged.
The Dang Family bloodline members watching likewise showed no particular change in expression.
The Dang Family was built upon blood.
It was a history that repeated endlessly, and the very force that kept the Dang Family steadfast.
“Next shall be Dang Gon and Dang Cheong.”
Upon hearing his name called, Dang Gon nodded while gazing at Bu Eunseol and Heuk Pyo.
“Then let us begin.”
Unlike before, Dang Gon’s expression had grown remarkably composed, his eyes turning cold and sharp.
Whoosh.
At that moment, Dang Cheong ascended the Combat Stage with an elegant movement technique.
“Brother.”
“Cheong.”
Dang Gon’s face, which had offered a light greeting, now brimmed with authority—a far cry from his earlier demeanor.
Only after witnessing the clash between Dang Ryeong and Dang Bi had he truly grasped what the position of a young family head demanded of him.
‘To become a family head is to become a merciless guardian capable of protecting the Sichuan Dang Family under any circumstance.’
Now fully awakened to this truth, Dang Gon fixed his gaze upon Dang Cheong and spoke.
“I hope you will face me with your full sincerity.”
Drawing upon his inner energy, Dang Gon regarded her with eyes as cold as winter frost.
His bearing now resembled Bu Eunseol’s demeanor when facing an adversary.
“Dang Sung.”
At that moment, Dang Cheong turned to address Dang Sung.
“I wish to concede.”
As Dang Sung’s expression shifted to surprise, Dang Cheong smiled brightly.
“After all, even if I were to become champion of the martial tournament, I could never become the family head, could I?”
“But….”
“And our third brother seems to have finally come to his senses.”
Turning her body, Dang Cheong looked toward Dang Gon and winked playfully.
“He was never suited to be a young family head before… but now he shows promise, does he not?”
‘So that was it.’
Only now could Dang Gon truly comprehend Bu Eunseol’s words.
―When one is raised with love beyond measure, there are times when one fails to recognize it.
‘I have been loved all along.’
By his father Dang Pae, by his youngest sister Dang Cheong, and by the blood relatives of the Dang Family who had witnessed his abilities and offered their support.
And by his dear friend watching from afar and his loyal retainer as well.
He was never alone.
“May I concede with peace of mind, third brother?”
As Dang Cheong asked with a smile, Dang Gon nodded solemnly.
“I shall not disappoint you.”
“The victor is Dang Gon!”
Dang Sung raised his voice once more, proclaiming loudly.
“For the final match, Dang Ryeong, please ascend the Combat Stage!”
Thud.
With those words, Dang Ryeong climbed back onto the Combat Stage.
His left shoulder was shattered to a severe degree, and his body bore the exhaustion of his previous battle.
Yet despite this, Dang Ryeong’s inner energy surpassed that of Dang Gon.
Shhink.
Without hesitation, Dang Gon drew the sword from his waist, and Dang Ryeong smiled faintly.
“You’ve changed.”
The Dang Gon of old would have declared that he would never cross blades with an injured Dang Ryeong.
But now it was different. For the sake of victory, he could relentlessly exploit an enemy’s weakness.
He had become cold enough to sever the neck of blood kin if it meant winning the contest.
“Had you shown me this side of yourself sooner… I would have set everything aside and dealt with you first.”
Dang Ryeong regarded Dang Gon with an expression of regret.
“You truly are fortunate.”
“Indeed. I am blessed with exceptional fortune.”
Dang Gon smiled faintly and brought his hands together.
“Shall we begin then?”
“Hehehehe. Very well.”
Dang Ryeong drew his twin swords and nodded.
“Let us fight without regret.”
Dang Ryeong smiled brightly.
‘I have no regrets.’
Born with a frail body, I had secretly endured brutal cultivation to overcome Heaven’s Curse.
Yet in doing so, the unexpected Dang Gon had emerged as a sleeping dragon.
‘No, I foresaw it all.’
I had numerous opportunities to kill Dang Gon.
But I was curious whether he would truly overcome his limits and become a threat worthy of my attention.
And that answer, that result, now stood before me.
‘I was far too indulgent.’
To become the patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Family, one must be colder than anyone else. My failure to do so had brought about this calamity.
‘Even my hasty attempt to kill the second son.’
When Dang Gon suddenly surged forward, I made a reckless decision in my desperation.
Had I not sought to kill Dang Bi, I would not have injured my shoulder.
‘How regrettable.’
I felt the weight of regret.
That I could not display all the martial arts I had cultivated before Dang Gon.
And that this final battle held only defeat.

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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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