The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 55

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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 55.
As Bu Eunseol examined the book intently, Ma Woon tilted his head in confusion.
“That’s a task that was handed down not long ago. There’s no need to look at it.”
When Bu Eunseol stared directly at him, Ma Woon shook his head.
“If you look at the details, you’ll understand—the pay is pittance compared to the work involved. It’s practically unpaid labor.”
“Money is not important.”
“Money is not important? Then what is?”
As Bu Eunseol continued to stare instead of answering, Ma Woon reluctantly opened his mouth.
“Nam Sa Gok is originally a Sal Mun that operated only in the Hubei region. But they’ve gradually expanded their territory and begun operations in Hunan Province as well.”
Ma Woon cleared his throat and continued.
“Nam Sa Gok doesn’t even belong to the Demon Hall’s Sal Mun, and they’re degenerates who’ll kill even children for money. On top of that, they operate as covertly as rats.”
“So the Guusal Unit is permitted to eliminate all sects that don’t belong to the Demon Hall?”
Bu Eunseol always asked many questions beyond just mission details.
But each time, Ma Woon cut her off.
“I provide information only regarding missions. No other information.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been staring at the contents written in the book, let out a small sound.
Then she placed the booklet labeled “Target” into her garment.
“I’ll take this one.”
As Bu Eunseol turned and left the Old Bookstore, Ma Woon muttered with a bewildered expression.
“Brother, that one is truly strange.”
“Why? How difficult of a task did she choose this time?”
“It’s not that. She chose the Nam Sa Gok elimination task that just came in.”
“What?”
Sang Ryang blinked his eyes.
“Why? She’s skilled enough. Why would she go after assassins?”
“Could it be… she’s similar to that Eleventh Tiger from before?”
Ma Woon muttered while watching Bu Eunseol’s retreating figure.
“It seems like she’s doing this because she’s addicted to bloodlust.”
“Does that even make sense?”
“Why wouldn’t it? Haven’t there often been those who join the Guusal Unit not because of crime or necessity, but to indulge in blood and slaughter?”
Among the Guusal Unit members, there were indeed those who entered not out of guilt or financial need, but to savor blood and carnage.
“The young one has such a fierce gaze and such a bleak manner of speech… it really does seem like a perfect match.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Then why would someone with such skill take on a low-rank task that’s practically a waste of time?”
“Hmm. I suppose so.”
Bu Eunseol had chosen the mission to gain practical experience, but from their perspective, it could easily be mistaken as a desire to commit slaughter.
Sang Ryang, who had furrowed his brows for a moment, shook his head.
“Damn it. I thought she was finally a decent one. To think she’s a madwoman afflicted with homicidal mania.”
* * *
A group of martial artists walked along the winding river, following its meandering course.
Though their appearance was shabby, their eyes gleamed with clarity, and each wore a hero’s headband.
They were disciples of the Hyungsan Sect, having departed from Gyeong Ha Ru and hastening along the road.
“It seems we’ll have no choice but to sleep under the stars tonight.”
The middle-aged man walking at the front gazed at the setting sun.
He was none other than Ok Ki Heun, the first disciple of the Hyungsan Sect.
“Ugh, all because of that bastard!”
Hong Jeon Gun, a lean man following behind, grumbled and struck the head of the youngest disciple beside him.
It was Myeong Woon, who had tried to seduce Bu Eunseol into buying him free drinks.
“Isn’t it because of you that we’ve fallen half a day behind and ended up in this mess?”
Myeong Woon then spoke with an aggrieved expression.
“It’s not my fault—it’s the alcohol worm in my belly that….”
Smack.
Hong Jeon Gun struck Myeong Woon’s head again for spouting nonsense, baring his gums.
“Stop your babbling and get ready to make a fire!”
The disciples of the Hyungsan Sect moved with practiced efficiency, as if sleeping outdoors was routine for them.
They gathered branches to kindle a fire, and several disciples pulled cloth from their packs, cut wood, and constructed a tent to shield themselves from the night dew.
Tap-tap-tap.
The night had grown deep.
The disciples of the Hyungsan Sect, having settled in a spot surrounded by rocks, sat around the campfire and sought sleep.
Chirp-chirp.
Only the sound of grass insects from somewhere occasionally broke the silence.
Hong Jeon Gun, with his hands clasped behind his back, asked Ok Ki Heun, who gazed at the bright moon above.
“First Disciple, are you unable to sleep?”
Ok Ki Heun smiled faintly and shook his head.
“No. I simply enjoy the beauty of the night sky….”
Yet his eyes were not looking at the night sky at all.
Hong Jeon Gun, perceiving Ok Ki Heun’s true thoughts, sighed.
“Indeed… it does feel strange that proud disciples of our main sect are transporting goods like couriers from an escort house.”
In truth, the disciples of the Hyungsan Sect had ventured into Gangho at the request of the Amipa, tasked with delivering the Golden Essence Pill to the Wudang Sect.
“It’s not mere transport—it was the earnest request of the Amipa. Our master has connections with the Orthodox Sects, so there was no helping it.”
Yet Ok Ki Heun’s expression was far from pleased.
No matter how much their power had waned, the Hyungsan Sect once dominated the southern peaks.
And now they were reduced to transporting goods for other sects? It was impossible not to feel a sense of inferiority.
“Our master even said that after this task, we would never undertake such work again.”
Yet the Hyungsan Sect’s finances were completely depleted. Without such work, they would starve.
Ok Ki Heun shook his head and changed the subject.
“Still, I worry about our youngest disciple. I wish his wandering would end soon.”
Myeong Woon was the youngest disciple, accepted late into the sect.
Yet blessed with a keen nature and innate talent for martial arts, he had mastered all the secret techniques of the Hyungsan Sect through self-study in merely a year.
Yet at some point, he stopped cultivating martial arts and instead spent his days drinking.
Though Ok Ki Heun had scolded him harshly countless times and even tried to coax him back, Myeong Woon refused to listen.
“Please do not worry so much. He will come to his senses eventually. And he will bring honor to the Hyungsan Sect.”
At Hong Jeon Gun’s words, Ok Ki Heun muttered with a bitter expression.
“If only Myeong Woon had joined our sect a little earlier, he would have been selected as one of the Great Virtue Masters.”
Great Virtue Masters.
A plan of the Murim Alliance to generously transmit supreme techniques regardless of sect or faction, thereby cultivating exceptional successors of the later generation.
Hearing that one could freely learn the secret techniques of the Orthodox Sects, disciples of the Hyungsan Sect had also applied to become Great Virtue Masters.
But their talents were not exceptional enough, and ultimately they could not pass through the Second Hall, so they had no choice but to turn back.
But if Myeong Woon had been there at that time?
He would surely have been selected as one of the eighteen Great Virtue Masters.
“Well, what good does it do to speak of the past?”
Ok Ki Heun, wearing a bitter smile, gazed at the sleeping face of Myeong Woon.
“It is not as though I do not understand Myeong Woon’s feelings.”
At those words, Hong Jeon Gun’s expression also turned desolate.
In truth, they all knew.
That Myeong Woon was not merely wandering, but had fallen into profound despair.
Without the Twin Absolutes—the Hyungsan Sect’s supreme internal cultivation method and the Ascending Sword Technique, the Fire Immortal Secret and the Pipa Sword—
Even if he mastered every martial art remaining in the Hyungsan Sect, he could never transcend the barrier of the first rank.
“Still, if it is Myeong Woon, he will surely be able to overcome his limits someday.”
At Hong Jeon Gun’s words, Ok Ki Heun smiled faintly.
“I can only hope that comes to pass.”
The two senior brothers gazed at the sleeping Myeong Woon with gentle eyes, as though bound by an unspoken promise.
“Please rest now, Senior Brother. From tomorrow onward, we must press forward on our journey.”
“Indeed…”
Just as Ok Ki Heun was about to nod, his eyes flashed open.
He had spotted something glinting above the trees.
‘A poison blade?’
It was a poison blade, its entire surface painted black to suppress the reflection of light.
An ordinary person would not have noticed it, but Ok Ki Heun possessed naturally keen night vision and had caught the glimmer of light.
“Ambush!”
Only assassins carried poison blades.
As Ok Ki Heun drew his sword and cried out loudly, the sleeping disciples of the Hyungsan Sect sprang to their feet.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Throwing needles began to rain down from the trees above.
Clang.
The disciples of the Hyungsan Sect who had drawn their swords deflected the cascade of needles.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Yet cries of pain erupted from various places almost immediately.
The hidden projectiles came with such cunning precision, and most of the Hyungsan Sect disciples lacked actual combat experience.
Whoosh.
Before long, assassins clad in black had surrounded them from all sides.
The Hyungsan Sect had only nine disciples.
But the assassins numbered nearly forty.
‘I’ve grown far too complacent!’
Having arrived safely in Ayang without incident, I had begun treating the transport of the Golden Divine Elixir like a leisurely excursion.
Even when sleeping rough, I should have chosen positions with ambush in mind and maintained vigilant watch.
“Surrender the Golden Divine Elixir quietly, and we’ll spare your lives.”
The leader of the assassins stepped forward and addressed Ok Ki Heun.
“There’s no need to risk your lives in pointless swordplay. Wouldn’t you agree?”
‘They already know we’re transporting the Golden Divine Elixir.’
Ok Ki Heun gritted his teeth.
Nothing was more terrifying than assassins armed with precise intelligence. They had revealed themselves so boldly because they were confident in their complete superiority.
“I refuse.”
“Incomprehensible. Why do you couriers stake your lives on mere cargo?”
As the assassin let out a mocking laugh, Ok Ki Heun suppressed his rage and spoke loudly.
“We are not couriers—we are disciples of the Hyungsan Sect!”
The assassin laughed even harder.
“That’s exactly what I mean. Why would mere remnants of the Orthodox Sects bother playing courier?”
The assassins had known all along that they were Hyungsan Sect disciples.
“You… you bastards….”
As Ok Ki Heun’s fury-filled hand gripped his blade, the lead assassin clicked his tongue.
“Well, that’s how all you Orthodox Sect fools are. Valuing honor over life, you’ll just end up dying like dogs.”
Then he spoke to the assassins behind him.
“They won’t listen to reason. Dispose of them quickly and let’s move.”
Shing.
At his command, all the assassins drew their poisoned blades.
The acrid stench that rose the moment they unsheathed their swords suggested the blades were coated with toxin.
“All disciples—draw your blades and repel the enemy!”
The first to answer Ok Ki Heun’s cry and draw his sword was none other than Myeong Woon.
Slash, slash!
His swordplay was exquisitely refined, his blade piercing the vital point near the assassin’s shoulder with perfect accuracy.
“Ugh!”
With a single stroke, Myeong Woon had rendered one assassin’s arm useless, and the surrounding assassins showed expressions of surprise.
“Kill that young one first!”
Seeing this, Hong Jeon Gun drew his blade and shouted.
“Protect Myeong Woon!”
Clang! Clang clang clang!
For a time, the forest echoed with the clash of weapons.
In that span, Myeong Woon had already cut down three assassins. Yet the senior disciples standing beside him were wavering, their blades trembling as they struggled to maintain their guard.
“Senior brothers! Hold on just a little longer!”
Myeong Woon cried out while wielding his long sword, but it was futile.
The outcome had already been decided from the start.
“Aaagh!”
With screams, the senior disciples who had been fighting back-to-back began falling one by one.
The assassins deliberately avoided fatal wounds, instead piercing the leg muscles and arm muscles to bring them down in agony.
“Uuugh….”
A mournful groan echoed softly through the air.
Of the nine disciples from Hyungsan Sect, only Myeong Woon remained standing with a blade in hand.
“Haa. Haa.”
The lead assassin watched Myeong Woon’s labored breathing and tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Strange. A mere boy is stronger than those who’ve aged longer?”
Another assassin laughed harshly and spoke.
“Could it be that your Hyungsan Sect stops martial training once you grow old? Gahahaha!”
Myeong Woon wanted to curse, but he lacked even the strength to open his mouth.
‘It’s all my fault.’
Only now did bitter regret come flooding in.
If I had only trained harder in martial arts, if I had only escaped despair sooner….
I could have defeated these cruel assassins and saved my senior brothers.
‘But….’
Thud.
Myeong Woon dropped the sword he had been holding and lowered his head.
Regret always arrives too late.
I have no strength left to move even a finger. No matter how much I struggle, nothing will change.
“A shame. Your talent seems quite promising.”
The assassin clicked his tongue and raised the poisoned blade he was holding.
“Future troubles must be eliminated beforehand. I don’t know about the others, but that one must die.”
Whoosh!
The moment the assassin’s poisoned blade was about to sever Myeong Woon’s neck,
Clang!
With a tremendous sound, the poisoned blade that was cutting toward the neck struck something and was knocked backward.
‘What?’
The lead assassin’s eyes widened as he looked down at the ground.
What had fallen was nothing other than a very small stone.
‘A master of considerable skill!’
Someone had infused the stone with powerful inner energy and thrown it with the weight of a steel ball.
“Who goes there!”
As the assassin’s cry rang out, a wind blew from somewhere.
It was the supreme lightness technique that could perfectly conceal all traces.
Shhhh.
Black mist rose from the ground, gradually taking on a human form, until a faint shadow materialized like a specter before the assassin’s eyes.
Clad in a dark night robe with a mask concealing her face.
Two swords hung at her waist and back, yet her presence felt closer to that of an orthodox martial artist than an assassin.
It was Bu Eunseol.

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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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