The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 422

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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 422.
The beggars of Byeok Gye Village grew frustrated as Mu Mu neither begged nor did anything but scavenge for insects to eat, approaching with irritated grumbles.
“You stupid fool!”
Crack!
A beggar struck Mu Mu’s head with a wooden bowl while he crouched there chewing on an insect, then bellowed at him.
“Shouldn’t you be begging to get something? Why do you just eat insects by yourself?”
The beggars of Byeok Gye Village, like beggars everywhere, formed communities and lived together.
They presented their begged alms to their leader and received their fair share in return.
But Mu Mu didn’t beg properly at all—he merely scavenged insects and garbage that went into his own mouth.
It was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.
Crunch, crunch.
Despite the harsh blow to his head, Mu Mu paid it no mind and continued eagerly chewing on the insect.
“Damn it!”
Just as the Middle-Aged Man, staring at Mu Mu’s grotesque face, was about to raise his fist again,
“Leave him be, sir. How hungry must he be to end up like this? Look how thin he is, sir.”
Tung Bo stepped forward and offered his own wooden bowl.
“I went to the Lower Village and managed to get some cold rice.”
In that bowl lay cold rice along with a generous chunk of tofu.
“I’ll educate this one properly, so please head inside, brothers.”
Tung Bo was naturally affable and possessed considerable eloquence, earning recognition not only among the beggar gang but throughout the village as well.
“Tung Bo. I’m letting this slide because of your face.”
The Middle-Aged Man took the bowl Tung Bo offered as if snatching it and turned away.
“You brats. Leave some behind. You’re taking it all.”
Tung Bo watched the gang depart, muttering in frustration before letting out a sigh.
“Mu Mu. When are you going to beg properly?”
“I don’t want to beg.”
Mu Mu’s lips parted for once.
His voice was low and cold, yet possessed a rather pleasant timbre.
“What do you mean you don’t want to? I told you to speak respectfully to your elder brother.”
Tung Bo frowned as he spoke.
“Once you’ve joined the beggar gang, communal living comes first. You can’t just eat insects because you want to.”
“I never said I joined the beggar gang.”
“Aren’t you a beggar? All the beggars around Byeok Gye Village are managed by that bald bastard, aren’t they?”
“Bald bastard?”
Just then, from behind Tung Bo, a Large Built Man with not a single hair on his head
and deep burn scars covering his face approached, leading five or six beggars.
It was none other than Heuk Woong, the leader of the Byeok Gye Village beggar gang.
“L-leader.”
“Tung Bo. You bastard. I’ve been lenient because you beg well, and now you’re getting cocky?”
Boom!
Heuk Woong’s kick sent Tung Bo tumbling across the ground.
“What are you staring at now? Why are your eyes so wide?”
Thwack!
Mu Mu likewise crashed to the ground from Heuk Woong’s kick.
“You lot, teach these bastards how to keep their eyes properly lowered.”
Thwack. Smack smack smack!
At Heuk Woong’s command, Mu Mu and Tung Bo were thoroughly beaten by his gang—pummeled as if dust were rising on a rainy day.
“Watch your mouths from now on. Don’t carelessly provoke the boss.”
As Heuk Woong’s gang dusted off their hands and departed, Mu Mu and Tung Bo lay sprawled on their backs with their faces swollen.
“You bastard… I got beaten because of you.”
“It wasn’t I who mentioned baldness.”
“Fine, fine. You’re something else, aren’t you?”
Drip drip.
Red blood trickled down from near Tung Bo’s forehead.
The scalp’s skin is remarkably thin, so even minor wounds bleed profusely.
Mu Mu, who had been staring at the sight, suddenly sprang up and began plucking grass from the nearby ground.
He brought a clean stone and started crushing the grass into a pulp, then began applying the sticky mass to Tung Bo’s bleeding head.
“It stings!”
“Bear with the pain.”
As the thick grass poultice was applied, the flowing blood gradually began to slow.
Then Mu Mu applied a bit more of the grass pulp to the wound.
Tung Bo watched Mu Mu examine the wound with a serious expression, speaking with envy.
“Kid. Your body’s nothing but skin and bones, yet your frame is sturdy as iron.”
Mu Mu, accustomed to beatings, would spring back up and move about even after being thoroughly pummeled.
“Seeing your mouth still moving, you must still have life in you.”
Once Tung Bo’s bleeding stopped completely, Mu Mu began picking up insects and eating them again.
“Does it taste good?”
“It tastes bad.”
“Give me some too. All the food I earned got knocked away because of you.”
Munch munch munch. Crunch crunch.
Before long, Tung Bo was crouching beside Mu Mu, the two of them happily munching on insects together.
Clop clop! Clop clop!
Then a massive shadow came galloping madly from far away.
It was a white horse with fur as white as snow, and upon it rode a Mysterious Woman with her eyes wide open, screaming.
“Whoa!”
Judging by the palace dress that seemed entirely unsuited to horseback riding, it appeared she had forced herself onto a horse she couldn’t ride and something had gone wrong.
“Get out of the way!”
The woman discovered Mu Mu and Tung Bo too late and cried out, but it was already too late.
The crazed white horse was already bearing down on Mu Mu.
But when the horse’s gaze met Mu Mu’s,
Screech!
The horse suddenly jerked to a halt, skidding wildly across the ground.
Neigh!
It reared up on its hind legs with a violent motion.
“Ah!”
The woman tumbled from the saddle with a sharp cry.
But in that instant, Mu Mu pivoted with remarkable speed and caught her falling form in his arms.
“Oh.”
Tung Bo gasped in astonishment.
Mu Mu had been mere inches from colliding with the horse—when had he managed to slip around to its side?
“Miss!”
Clop, clop!
At that moment, a mounted warrior came thundering toward them from the distance, his shout cutting through the air.
Sharp, piercing eyes gleamed above a fitted black martial robe that hugged his frame, while a crimson silk sash cinched his waist tightly.
His features were handsome enough, yet something sinister lurked behind his gaze.
It was Gyo Cheon Ak, the martial instructor employed by the Sung Family Estate.
“Are you unharmed?”
As Gyo Cheon Ak dismounted and rushed over, the woman in white regained her composure and nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Only then did she look upon the face of the beggar cradling her.
Long hair obscured much of his visage, but beneath it she could see skin melted away and dark scabs clinging to the exposed flesh.
The sight was grotesque, yet strangely, his eyes were infinitely clear and profound.
Mu Mu carefully set the woman down upon the ground.
Observing this, Gyo Cheon Ak raised his whip and lashed Mu Mu’s back.
“How dare you!”
Crack!
In that instant, a vivid crimson welt bloomed across Mu Mu’s back.
Though such agony should have rendered him senseless, Mu Mu merely uttered a soft groan and hunched his shoulders.
“Instructor Gyo! What are you doing?”
The woman in white cried out sharply, and Gyo Cheon Ak replied as though it were obvious.
“Did this beggar not dare lay his filthy hands upon your precious body?”
“He only saved me when I fell from the horse, nothing more.”
And she moved to help the fallen Mu Mu to his feet.
“Are you all right?”
Though Mu Mu’s clothes were caked with all manner of filth, she spoke without the slightest hesitation.
“I’m truly sorry. Please, let me apologize on your behalf.”
Only then did Mu Mu gaze directly upon the woman’s face.
Her eyes were long and graceful as a phoenix’s, her skin pristine—though her reckless expression and impetuous tone somewhat diminished the elegance of her features.
She was none other than Sung Su Ryeo, the only daughter and precious jewel of the Sung Family Estate, the wealthiest household in Geun Dong.
“…”
Mu Mu offered no response to her question, turning his gaze away instead.
“We’re fine!”
As an awkward silence settled over them, Tung Bo stepped forward with keen awareness, waving both hands.
“For beggars like us, getting beaten is part of daily life. There’s no need to concern yourself, miss.”
“But—”
Sung Su Ryeo looked at Tung Bo with an apologetic expression, then suddenly widened her eyes.
Insects that Tung Bo had been chewing were stuck all around his mouth.
“Did you actually eat insects?”
“Huh? Yes. Ah, no… I just ate them because I was hungry.”
As Tung Bo wiped his mouth, Sung Su Ryeo seemed to make a decision and unfastened the bracelet on her wrist.
“Please take this. With this, you won’t have to worry about food for several months.”
“You’re giving this to us?”
“You helped me and got hurt in the process. This is nothing.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
Tung Bo began to make a deep bow and extended his hand, but Mu Mu frowned and stepped forward.
“We don’t need it.”
He waved his hand firmly and spoke decisively.
“Take it back.”
When Sung Su Ryeo blinked, Mu Mu spoke matter-of-factly.
“Giving us something like this is pointless. We’d just end up accused of theft and beaten senseless for our trouble.”
“I’m sorry. This fool’s mind is a bit twisted to begin with!”
Though Tung Bo tried to cover his mouth, Mu Mu coldly brushed his hand away and continued.
“Besides, before we could even sell it, the gang boss would steal it from us anyway.”
“Is that so?”
Sung Su Ryeo spoke with an apologetic expression.
“I want to repay your kindness. What should I do?”
“If you’re grateful, have your servants bring us a bowl of cold rice. That would be best.”
“You wretch! How dare you, a vagrant! Do you know who our young lady is?”
At Mu Mu’s blunt words, Gyo Cheon Ak shouted again.
But Sung Su Ryeo nodded with an unbothered expression.
“Most beggars take whatever is offered. You’re quite particular, aren’t you?”
She laughed, revealing her white teeth.
“Fine. Next time I’ll bring a bowl of cold rice.”
Then she turned and bowed her head to Gyo Cheon Ak as well.
“Master Gyo, I’m sorry. I apologize for forcing the issue when you said it wasn’t possible. I was just eager to train Baek Ah quickly.”
Gyo Cheon Ak clicked his tongue as if resigned and spoke.
“Let us return now, miss.”
After helping her onto his horse, he took the reins and slowly walked alongside the white steed.
Tung Bo, who had been staring blankly at their departing figures, finally came to his senses.
“You crazy bastard!”
He grabbed Mu Mu by the collar and shook him violently.
“Do you have any idea how expensive those ornaments are! One of those alone could feed and entertain us for a whole year!”
Then, as if deeply wronged, he struck the ground and cried out.
“And why can’t we dispose of them? There are fences who specialize in handling such things!”
“Death.”
“What?”
“If you take those items, nine times out of ten you’ll end up dead.”
“What are you talking about? Dead?”
Mu Mu spoke with a resolute expression.
“Don’t the fences pay protection money to the Black Gang?”
Mu Mu continued, his gaze fixed on Tung Bo.
“When a man’s life hangs in the balance over just a couple of silver coins… what wouldn’t they do to quietly pocket something as valuable as this?”
Tung Bo’s mouth fell open.
He had been far too excited by the sight of the jeweled ornaments.
But thinking about it coldly, the fence would likely kill them and pocket the goods himself.
After all, killing a nameless beggar or two would be nothing to thugs from the Black Gang.
“Now that I think about it… there was that time when Snub-Nose from the Back Village carelessly touched some stolen goods and got beaten to death by Black Gang thugs.”
“Beyond that, it’s best to avoid accepting items offered by the wealthy whenever possible. It’s common for servants or martial artists who noticed them to intercept such things.”
“Hmm.”
Tung Bo nodded, recalling Gyo Cheon Ak’s cold, piercing gaze.
Had he accepted that bracelet, he was certain that man would have taken some kind of action.
“Mu Mu. I don’t know about anything else, but you’re definitely someone from a beggar background.”
“What do you mean.”
“Even with your memory lost, you’re more versed in beggar life than I am. Ha ha ha.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
Mu Mu nodded in agreement.
He had no name, no memories from before arriving at the village. Yet his knowledge of beggar life was unmistakable.
That much was certain—he had been a beggar.
“Perhaps you too touched some stolen goods and were killed for it? Your clothes were all torn, but they were of quite good quality.”
When Tung Bo first found Mu Mu, his clothes had been shredded like rags.
It was possible that Mu Mu had also met misfortune by touching something he shouldn’t have.
“That’s certainly possible.”
Mu Mu gazed toward the distant sky with a bitter expression.
“Perhaps I’m being punished with lost memories because I did terrible things in the past….”
“Why would you say such a thing? It could have been something else entirely.”
Tung Bo laughed and patted Mu Mu’s shoulder.
“Let’s get some rest now. I’m so beaten up that every bone in my body aches.”
“Very well.”
Mu Mu walked alongside Tung Bo toward Byeok Gye Village.
That night.
Thick snow poured down, blanketing the entire world in white, while a biting wind howled relentlessly.
Despite the bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze the world itself, Mu Mu huddled in a small makeshift shelter a distance away from Byeok Gye Village, lost in sleep.
Ordinarily, he should have been sleeping in Byeok Gye Village under Heuk Woong’s leadership.
After all, the village had sturdy buildings and warm fires scattered throughout to ward off the cold.
Yet Mu Mu did not sleep there.
He had no desire to gauge the mood of Heuk Woong, the gang leader, and more importantly, because he talked in his sleep so much, he ended up getting beaten every time.
Even if it meant enduring the cold and hardship, sleeping separately like this brought him peace of mind.
“Mmm…”
Mu Mu, curled up in the shelter, let out a soft moan.
He was dreaming again.
* * *
The sleeping child slowly opened his eyes.
Before the blurred surroundings came into focus, there appeared a pair of eyes—clear and beautiful, reminiscent of an open sea.
A pair of brilliant and exquisite eyes gazed down at him.
“Another nightmare, it seems.”
A tender hand gently brushed across the child’s hair and cheek.
As the child blinked again, his eyes came into focus.
Then he could see the beautiful face of his mother, wearing a compassionate smile.
“…”
The child rolled his eyes from side to side.
The room’s landscape came into view, illuminated by a faint lantern.
On one side stood a small table, and upon it lay expensive inkstones and brushes used by high officials.
The bookshelf held countless volumes, and the chair was perfectly sized for a child of six or seven years old.
At first glance, it was the bedroom of a noble house descendant who read extensively.
“Are you alright?”
As his mother stroked his forehead once more and asked, the child, with only his head poking out from beneath the blanket, nodded.
Could he have been five or six years old?
He was a child with plump cheeks, pale skin, and eyes with striking black and white contrast.
His appearance resembled So Dong in every way, and his gaze was calm and mature beyond his years.
“Sleep more. It is not yet the third watch of the night.”
At his mother’s words, the child nodded and soon fell back into deep slumber.
Click.
Then the door opened, and a Middle-Aged Man in blue robes entered, speaking in a low voice. He was the child’s father.
“It seems he had another nightmare.”
His voice was low and clear.
The father gazed at his son beneath the blanket and wore a gentle smile.
“I cannot fathom why he has been sleeping so restlessly of late.”
The couple had rushed here in alarm upon hearing the brief moans coming from their son’s room.
“Could it be because he secretly read the Bestial Toxin Scripture last night?”
“The Bestial Toxin Scripture? Who could have procured such a book for him?”
“Who else? That lama monk you brought from Seo Jang.”
The woman spoke with her arms crossed.
“This child loves reading more than anything. That lama monk knows it, and he’s been secretly handing over forbidden texts one by one—books the child should never see.”
The man cleared his throat awkwardly.
“He is a venerable monk of considerable spiritual power who came to heal this child’s body. He would never engage in such impropriety….”
The couple’s hushed conversation continued for some time.
In truth, the child had not yet fallen asleep.
Instead, he listened to their gentle murmuring as though it were a lullaby.
A father revered by all, and a mother possessed of the world’s most tender and affectionate heart.
With family gathered thus, the child wanted for nothing. And he wished this moment would endure forever.
But it was nothing more than a hollow dream.
Whoosh.
The vast manor was ablaze.
On all sides, the clash of weapons and anguished screams intermingled in a cacophony of devastation.
“Forgive me.”
With a sorrowful expression, the middle-aged man cradled the child and opened the secret passage door of the manor.
“Your father… lacks the strength to protect you any longer.”
The middle-aged man swallowed his anguish and held his beloved son tightly.
“Forget everything.”
He gathered his inner force and gently struck the child’s Heavenly Spirit Gate.
In an instant, all the warm memories lingering in the child’s mind vanished. Simultaneously, consciousness fled and he plunged into deep slumber.
Tap, tap, tap!
The middle-aged man swiftly struck the child’s Blood Sealing Points. It was the Lost Suspended Animation Technique, long extinct from the Murim…
A death-like state with only a thread of breath remaining, capable of sustaining life for three months.
“And survive to the very end.”
With a sorrowful expression, he held the child’s body close one final time, placed him within the passage, and sealed the door shut.
And thus a season passed.
Creak, creak.
Before a Palace Hall of the manor, now reduced to ash and ruin.
A circular opening formed near where the great beam had stood, and a small child emerged.
“….”
The child’s eyes, as he rose from the earth, were utterly vacant.
Who am I?
Why do I stand in this place of ruin?
No matter how I searched, I could find no answer.
Patter, patter.
Suddenly the sky turned ashen, and white snowflakes began to fall.
Unconsciously, the child reached out and touched a snowflake.
It should have melted upon contact, but since my blood circulation had not yet properly resumed, the snowflake did not melt.
“….”
The Child gazed at the falling snowflakes for a long while before glancing around.
With unfocused eyes, The Child began to move forward.
Though uncertain of the destination, The Child felt compelled—even in this unconscious state—to press onward.
Between the descending snowflakes, The Child walked on instinct alone, gradually leaving the Manor behind.

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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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