The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 568

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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 568.
Yuk Cheong Ah, who had been reaching for Bu Eunseol’s sleeve, froze upon spotting the two figures.
In that moment, Bu Eunseol clasped her hands respectfully before Gong Son Dan Gyeong and Baek Mu Sung.
“Chief, Lord Baek.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded and smiled.
“Lord Seon Woo. What brings you here?”
As she spoke, her gaze was not directed at Bu Eunseol, but rather at Yuk Cheong Ah standing beside her.
Bu Eunseol, understanding the implication, responded with measured courtesy.
“I was returning from my duties when I happened to encounter Lord Yuk by chance.”
At that moment, Baek Mu Sung’s expression, standing beside Gong Son Dan Gyeong, grew slightly rigid.
The Elite Division was located in the Bamboo Forest at the far edge of the Murim Alliance North Gate.
Unless Yuk Cheong Ah had deliberately sought this place out, there was no reason they should have crossed paths here by accident.
‘So that’s what this was.’
Yuk Cheong Ah, sensing the transparent gazes of Gong Son Dan Gyeong and Baek Mu Sung, felt her composure shatter inwardly.
‘Now she’s orchestrating events to destroy my relationship with Lord Baek.’
Only now did she realize that all of this was Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s design.
“And what brings the two of you here?”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol redirected the conversation with a question, and Gong Son Dan Gyeong glanced at Baek Mu Sung.
“I heard that the Lord of Deungmu Hall and the Lord of Yong Ban Jeon coincidentally proposed the same mission to the Alliance Leader simultaneously.”
She spoke calmly, her eyes fixed on Baek Mu Sung.
“If two halls compete to handle the same mission, the probability of failure actually increases. That’s why I intended to persuade both the Lord of Yong Ban Jeon and the Lord of Deungmu Hall.”
“Persuade them, you say…?”
“If both halls must depart simultaneously, wouldn’t it be better if they truly joined forces instead?”
‘It was planned after all.’
Yuk Cheong Ah’s expression turned ice-cold.
Watching Gong Son Dan Gyeong speak with such effortless eloquence, she could be certain of it.
The position of Chief of the Murim Alliance was hardly a leisurely post, given how attentively she managed the duties of first-rate Lords.
Ultimately, Gong Son Dan Gyeong had anticipated every circumstance.
She had waited for the moment when Yuk Cheong Ah would confront Seon Woo Jin, then brought Baek Mu Sung here at precisely that time.
Relationships crumble from the smallest seeds of doubt.
“It seems Lord Baek has already accepted the proposal.”
Yuk Cheong Ah finally hurled barbed words at Baek Mu Sung.
“Judging by how quickly you followed the Chief here.”
Seeing Baek Mu Sung’s favorable expression, it seemed he would find it impossible to refuse Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s request.
“Nothing has been decided yet.”
Baek Mu Sung, meeting Yuk Cheong Ah’s frigid gaze, spoke flatly.
“But hearing the Lord speak thus, I find myself inclined to follow the Chief’s decision.”
‘Perhaps it was never meant to be.’
Yuk Cheong Ah finally understood.
Even without Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s schemes, a close relationship with Baek Mu Sung was never truly possible.
I had long known that Baek Mu Sung harbored affection for Gong Son Dan Gyeong… yet I believed he would still maintain a clear distinction between public and private matters.
But those blinded by love possessed no such discernment.
“I came to Seon Woo Dae Ju with similar intentions to seek his counsel.”
Yuk Cheong Ah spoke coldly as she regarded Baek Mu Sung.
“Just as you did, Baek Dae Ju.”
Her voice carried an icy chill.
The summons from Gong Son Dan Gyeong could be considered quite a significant matter.
Yet seeing him follow so recklessly without even informing her of such an important affair…
An immeasurable sense of betrayal and disappointment washed over her.
“Is there a need to hear my opinion?”
Bu Eunseol stepped forward and spoke calmly.
“If the superiors have decided thus, I shall simply comply.”
“Excellent.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong looked between Baek Mu Sung and Bu Eunseol as she spoke.
“Then I shall take it that both of your opinions align, and I, as Chief, will persuade the two Jeon Jus.”
“Understood. I have urgent matters to attend to….”
Bu Eunseol clasped her hands respectfully to Gong Son Dan Gyeong, Yuk Cheong Ah, and Baek Mu Sung.
“I shall take my leave first.”
Baek Mu Sung likewise clasped his hands respectfully to Gong Son Dan Gyeong and Yuk Cheong Ah.
“Then I too must excuse myself.”
And he too turned and departed.
Remaining at the entrance to the Bamboo Forest were Gong Son Dan Gyeong and Yuk Cheong Ah.
‘Gong Son Dan Gyeong.’
Yuk Cheong Ah bit her lip.
With this single, simple encounter,
she had instantaneously shattered the cooperative relationship she had carefully maintained with Baek Mu Sung.
This was possible only because of her penetrating insight into human psychology and relationships.
In Yuk Cheong Ah’s pursuit of her ambitions, the greatest obstacle was none other than… Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
“Seon Woo Dae Ju receives excessive favor. The Chief takes personal interest in even such trivial tasks.”
“Is that so?”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong laughed brightly as she countered.
“It hardly seems trivial when both Jeon Jus appear to stake their very lives on it.”
This was a barb directed at the competitive attitudes of Deung Mu Jeon Ju Yuk Jang Cheon and Yong Ban Jeon Ju Yong Myeong.
Yuk Cheong Ah offered no further response and clasped her hands respectfully.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Do so.”
As Yuk Cheong Ah turned, her eyes gleamed with a chill colder than ice itself.
‘Chief. You will come to regret what transpired today.’
Since matters had come to this, she could no longer sail in the same boat as Baek Mu Sung.
Now, whether it was Seon Woo Jin or Baek Mu Sung… both had become expendable cards to be discarded.
* * *
―Baek Dang Ju, Seon Woo Dang Ju. The two of you will handle the Sal Gwi that has appeared this time.
Ultimately, through Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s mediation, Deung Mu Jeon Ju and Yong Ban Jeon Ju each dispatched Seon Woo Jin and Baek Mu Sung, agreeing to combine their efforts.
To become Mu Cheon Danjoo.
The leadership was well aware that the two Lords were eager to accumulate merit.
However, if they competed to eliminate the Sal Gwi, trouble would surely arise.
Furthermore, from an external perspective, it would appear unseemly—as though they were obsessed with earning merit—so this decision was made.
Of course, Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s influence worked behind the scenes, and the two Lords reluctantly acquiesced.
Meanwhile, the senior figures of the Murim Alliance reacted with bewilderment upon hearing this news.
Seon Woo Jin, who had risen as a new generation master of the Elite Division.
Baek Mu Sung, disciple of Bul Jon, who was called the Golden Divine Dragon and stood prominently as the next generation master.
Sending both of them along with their entire divisions to capture a single Sal Gwi?
―Who would earn the merit?
All the senior figures of the Murim Alliance watched the results of this mission with keen interest.
* * *
Bu Eunseol and Baek Mu Sung each selected ten outstanding subordinates from their divisions and departed from the Murim Alliance.
If they did not handle the matter as quickly as possible, more people would suffer casualties from the Sal Gwi.
The two divisions headed swiftly toward Sichuan without delay.
However, since they had to lead their subordinates, they repeated the routine of employing lightness techniques during the day and sleeping under the stars at night.
Finally reaching the borders of Sichuan, as night fell, they sought shelter from the evening dew in an abandoned house nearby.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
The sparks from the campfires lit by each division pierced through the silence.
The two divisions traveled together only in proximity.
Everything else was conducted separately, and Bu Eunseol and Baek Mu Sung exchanged little conversation.
Originally, the two were not on bad terms, but this matter had made their relationship somewhat awkward.
To be precise, Baek Mu Sung found Bu Eunseol uncomfortable.
‘The Lord Commander regards Seon Woo Dang Ju specially.’
Baek Mu Sung’s eyes narrowed as he walked through the forest while letting his subordinates rest.
‘I suppose it cannot be helped.’
Seon Woo Jin was an exceptional figure who possessed the extraordinary within the ordinary.
A remarkable individual who had even captured the heart of one who had never deigned to look at martial artists of the same generation.
It was perhaps natural that a prodigy like Gong Son Dan Gyeong would take interest in him.
If only Bu Eunseol showed favor toward Gong Son Dan Gyeong as well, at least his heart would find some relief.
Yet he always treated Gong Son Dan Gyeong with indifference. And that very fact grated on his nerves.
‘In the end, he is a rival.’
Even if Seon Woo Jin treated Gong Son Dan Gyeong plainly, if Gong Son Dan Gyeong treated Seon Woo Jin specially?
Regardless of his own feelings, Seon Woo Jin would become his rival.
Crunch, crunch.
Then, from behind, a figure in white robes approached, footsteps accompanying them, something large clutched in hand.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Here it is. Take it.”
Bu Eunseol approached and tossed what she held in her hand to Baek Mu Sung.
It was an enormously large gourd bottle, as big as a small child.
“We should arrive near Song Ban by tomorrow. When we do, we may be caught up in a frantic pursuit, so there won’t be time for a drink like this.”
Baek Mu Sung laughed with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
“You’ve reverted to your original manner of speech the moment we left the Murim Alliance.”
“Why would I do something so tedious after coming all this way?”
Pop.
Baek Mu Sung opened the gourd bottle.
Immediately, a sweetly intoxicating aroma that defied description tickled his nostrils.
“What about your drink?”
“Were you planning to drink all of that enormous thing by yourself?”
“Ah, I see.”
Baek Mu Sung’s eyes widened as he took a sip of the wine.
The wine in the gourd bottle was Jian Nan Chun, a renowned vintage from Sichuan, and judging by its aroma, it appeared to be aged at least a hundred years.
Baek Mu Sung tossed the gourd bottle back to Bu Eunseol.
“When on earth did you acquire such fine wine?”
“I didn’t acquire it—I prepared it from the moment we left the Alliance.”
Glug, glug.
Bu Eunseol drank deeply from the gourd bottle and spoke calmly.
“Since I’m traveling with you for once, I thought we should share a drink.”
Baek Mu Sung drew a deep breath.
Because of Gong Son Dan Gyeong, he had been nursing a wound in his heart.
Yet Bu Eunseol remained unchanged.
Regardless of the circumstances around them, she saw him as he truly was, without a care in the world.
For the first time, Baek Mu Sung felt ashamed.
“I never realized I was so narrow-minded.”
“What are you talking about?”
Baek Mu Sung spoke the words honestly from his heart.
“To be frank, I’ve resented you these past few days. She seems interested in you, but you don’t seem interested in her.”
“You would have preferred I showed interest in the Chief?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
Even as he spoke, something felt off about it.
Baek Mu Sung waved his hand dismissively.
“What I’m trying to say is….”
“I understand.”
“Huh?”
“A man who treats the woman he loves coldly could hardly appear appealing, could he?”
Baek Mu Sung’s eyes widened in astonishment.
He had never realized Bu Eunseol was so perceptive and understood his heart so well.
“You must be deeply disappointed.”
“….”
“To think you maintain relations with someone of such narrow-mindedness.”
Baek Mu Sung lowered his head in shame. But an unexpected answer came in return.
“That merely shows how pure and honest with your emotions you are.”
Bu Eunseol tossed him a gourd flask as she spoke.
“So stop blaming yourself so often.”
Thunk.
Baek Mu Sung gazed down at the gourd flask he had caught, a smile playing at his lips.
Before a kindred spirit who truly understood him, there was nothing to feel ashamed of.
He had come to realize that he need only express his heart honestly.
“You’ve always felt like an old friend to me.”
Baek Mu Sung spoke with a far more relaxed expression.
“That’s probably why I find myself saying unnecessary things without thinking.”
“That’s enough.”
Bu Eunseol gazed toward the distant sky with an indifferent expression, feigning intoxication.
She was giving Baek Mu Sung time to sort through his complicated feelings.
“Have you ever been in love?”
Baek Mu Sung posed a rather abrupt question.
“Someone as exceptional as you wouldn’t have been left alone by those around you.”
“Marriage proposals have come and gone a few times, but I’ve rejected them all. I have no intention of starting a family yet.”
“I see.”
Baek Mu Sung spoke with a smile.
“You’ll understand someday. When you stand before someone you love, anyone becomes flustered.”
“….”
“Your eyes and ears become blind, and your heart fills with nothing but that person’s image.”
Baek Mu Sung laughed heartily as he watched Bu Eunseol’s dazed expression.
“Don’t look at me like I’m a plague spirit. If you ever fall in love someday, you’ll understand what I mean.”
After laughing for a long while, Baek Mu Sung sighed deeply and spoke.
And he spoke as though he had made a resolution.
“From now on, I will continue to accumulate merit and become the Wu Tian Duan Lord. I will surpass you and Yuk Dang Ju as well.”
“….”
“And when that time comes, I will propose to her.”
Baek Mu Sung laughed with joy.
“Of course, she will refuse. But as a Lord, doesn’t one get to meet the Chief frequently? I intend to wait by her side for the rest of my life.”
“Why are you telling me such things?”
To Bu Eunseol’s question, Baek Mu Sung spoke in a low voice.
“Because I like you so much.”
Before long, a brilliant white radiance rippled in Baek Mu Sung’s eyes, and a pristine white aura surged from his body.
Jeol Se Jong Sa. He was now unleashing the formidable power he had never before displayed so openly.
“After this mission, you won’t accumulate any more merit. The same goes for Sal Gwi.”
Despite the ominous words, Baek Mu Sung’s lips curved into a delighted smile.
“And when I become Danjoo, I’ll appoint you as Vice Danjoo. Even if I do something foolish or make mistakes… you’ll handle the aftermath with cold precision.”
“Baek hyung.”
“I made my intentions clear beforehand. So don’t harbor any resentment.”
Baek Mu Sung wore a somewhat sorrowful smile.
“To win her heart, I must become Danjoo.”
Bu Eunseol found herself at a loss for words.
The world held countless people, each valuing different things as the highest purpose of their lives.
Some cherished honor, others vast wealth, and still others… love as their supreme goal.
Though he would one day become a legendary master and leave a profound mark upon the Murim.
Baek Mu Sung had set his heart solely on winning Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s affection as his life’s greatest objective.
“Is it strange that I’m like this?”
At Baek Mu Sung’s question, Bu Eunseol shook her head.
“No.”
And she added one more thing.
“I envy you, Baek hyung, for being able to be honest with your feelings.”
“Are you consoling me?”
“I’m being sincere.”
Bu Eunseol offered a withered smile.
“I could never do such a thing.”
If Baek Mu Sung’s goal was love,
then mine is vengeance.
And to achieve it, I must overcome countless enemies and endure many trials.
To reveal my emotions honestly or be swayed by them… was something I could not afford to do, nor should I.
‘Will I be able to, once my revenge is complete?’
Even I didn’t know the answer.
I could only hope that Baek Mu Sung’s love would be fulfilled.
“From now on, you and I have truly become rivals.”
“If you mean romantic rivals, I must decline.”
“Haha. Not romantic rivals—true competitors.”
When Baek Mu Sung laughed, Bu Eunseol smiled as well.
Ordinarily, competitors cannot bless one another or regard each other with ease.
But these two could.
Because they would strive without regret.
Because they could offer blessings regardless of who became Danjoo.
Though their destinations differed, they were people who understood the value of friendship.
“Then let’s stop drinking for now.”
“Hmm?”
“We need to compete earnestly starting tomorrow.”
It was Bu Eunseol’s consideration.
If they continued conversing and drinking like this… that man would lose even his purpose.
He would show such profound friendship toward her.
Whoooosh!
Bu Eunseol rose from her seat and swung the gourd bottle toward the sky.
The liquor within transformed into ten million droplets, soaring into the night sky.
“We should head back soon. Our subordinates will likely be worried.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Baek Mu Sung laughed and nodded.
“Indeed.”
And with their shoulders aligned, they walked toward where their subordinates were camped.
“Ah yes, when I become the Danjoo, I’ll bring not just you but the entire Elite Division.”
“What grand ambitions. Save such talk for after you’ve become a Lord-level figure.”
As the two disappeared into the Forest, whispering to each other,
Pitter-patter-patter.
The droplets Bu Eunseol had scattered fell like rain to the ground.
Was it coincidence? Or fate?
The fallen droplets once more
traced a long line, as if dividing precisely in half the spot where Bu Eunseol and Baek Mu Sung had stood facing each other.

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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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