The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 639

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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 639.
“It seems Gwon Wang has been affiliated with some organization until now. And there…”
Tae Mu Ryong compiled the intelligence gathered by Sa Hon Dae and the Elite Division, relaying it in detail to Bu Eunseol.
“I see.”
After hearing the entire account, Bu Eunseol exhaled a sigh tinged with relief.
Seok Chi Haeng had not suddenly become Sal Gwi.
Rather, while subdued by me, Gojeoklim had crumbled, and he seemed to have descended into madness from rage and despair.
Which meant, perhaps.
There must have been profound circumstances behind his becoming the gatekeeper of Gojeoklim.
Ultimately, Seok Chi Haeng wandered the Gangho in frantic pursuit of Hyung Su, who had toppled Gojeoklim, and naturally collided with various factions.
As endless battles repeated, he eventually succumbed to homicidal mania and became Sal Gwi.
‘Could there have been a romantic attachment after all?’
It was natural for one to seek vengeance when their sect fell.
Yet for a figure who had reached such exceptional martial prowess as Gwon Wang.
It seemed impossible he would lose his reason and become a slaughtering ghost merely because his sect had been destroyed.
Then could it be that his reason for belonging to Gojeoklim was rooted in romantic attachment? Such suspicion arose.
‘Perhaps that person was Bi Yeon, her.’
Bu Eunseol recalled the woman, Bi Yeon, who was Gojeoklim itself and shared one body with the Black Divine Artifact.
In her final moment, she had spoken words of apology to Seok Chi Haeng.
Then Seok Chi Haeng must have harbored affection for her, becoming the gatekeeper because of it.
And with the fallen Gojeoklim, she had met death, could it be that he fell into despair and rage because of this?
“It is said that Sal Gwi, Gwon Wang, indiscriminately attacks spirited young martial artists in particular. This has caused him to clash with numerous factions.”
This is why he has clashed with several factions.”
Tae Mu Ryong spoke with a grave expression.
“However, his martial prowess is extraordinarily formidable, and thus far it appears to be skirmishes with a few Gangho factions rather than a great massacre, so it has been manageable….”
He took a deep breath and shook his head.
“If our division’s analysis is correct, he appears to have already become a slaughter demon experiencing homicidal mania.”
“Mm.”
“Before long, he will likely descend into complete madness, and soon he will become a great calamity, indiscriminately slaying both martial artists and commoners.”
Bu Eunseol sighed.
It felt as though Gwon Wang’s transformation into a slaughter demon was entirely her fault.
“I shall stop him.”
“You speak, Lord?”
“Indeed.”
Tae Mu Ryong’s eyes widened.
Did that not mean defeating Gwon Wang as Seon Woo Jin?
“Will that be possible?”
It was not that he doubted Bu Eunseol’s abilities, but rather that Seon Woo Jin had limitations in her designated power parameters.
“I have devised certain measures.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Tae Mu Ryong pondered something deeply, then nodded.
“Then I shall immediately instruct them to analyze Gwon Wang’s movement patterns and pinpoint his location. Oh, and one more thing.”
Tae Mu Ryong scratched his head as if just remembering.
“The Chief is searching for the Lords.”
I had been curious about that myself.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s objective was the annihilation of the Infinite Realm, and to achieve it, she maintained a cooperative relationship with Bu Eunseol, the successor of the Demon Palace.
And Bu Eunseol had finally brought down everything in the Infinite Realm except the Supreme Lord.
Yet she showed surprisingly little reaction.
She could not possibly be unaware that Cheon Hae Medicine Forest was the Infinite Realm… She had not sent any covert communications to the Sa Hon Dae, nor had she expressed any position on the matter.
‘I’ll understand when we meet.’
Having organized my thoughts, I nodded.
“I shall go at once.”
Eun Wol Gak, Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s office.
Within it lay a secret chamber designed so that no sound could escape to the outside world.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong had summoned Bu Eunseol into that secret chamber to speak with her.
“Originally, Mu Jon attempted to delay the selection of a successor to the Wu Tian Duan as much as possible.”
Perhaps it was because of Seon Woo Jin’s identity.
Unexpectedly, she made no mention whatsoever of the Infinite Realm, speaking only about the selection of candidates for the next Wu Tian Duan Lord.
“The selection of the next Murim Alliance Lord should not be done by his own hand… but only after the death of the current Murim Alliance Lord becomes known, or so he said.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong shook her head as she spoke.
“Yet he suddenly issued an order to select candidates for the Danjoo without any consultation…”
“Would it not be to refresh the atmosphere within the Alliance?”
“If that were the case, he should not have entrusted the selection and examination to the Vice Lord.”
When Mu Jon suddenly moved to rapidly select a successor to the Wu Tian Duan under the direction of Vice Lord Buk Ri Seung,
she was greatly confused.
My status was still that of a first-rank Lord.
To become a candidate for Wu Tian Duan Lord, one must at minimum reach the rank of Danjoo.
Yet in reality, selections had never been made from those holding the rank of Danjoo, and in practice, they had been selected from the heads of major organizations within the Murim Alliance—the Halls, Gardens, Pavilions, and Forests.
The leaders of the Murim Alliance’s major organizations.
But to suddenly select candidates for Danjoo at this time?
Did that not mean Bu Eunseol, a first-rank Lord, would be entirely excluded from the candidates?
“Since it has already been officially announced within the Alliance, we cannot withdraw it.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been listening silently, asked.
“Would it not be wise to request a meeting with Mu Jon?”
“Of course I tried. But I cannot even reach him at the moment.”
“Then how did you yourself become the Alliance Lord?”
Bu Eunseol asked with a grave expression.
“If I hear how Mu Jon became the Alliance Lord, I may be able to find the reason for his sudden actions like these.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong furrowed her brow for a moment, then recounted what she had heard from Mu Jon.
“When news of Jeong Cheon Je’s death reached us, the Orthodox Martial World was in utter chaos. Moreover, there was no one to immediately check Ma Cheon Je, nor anyone suitable to succeed as Alliance Lord.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong continued speaking calmly.
“And it seems Jeong Cheon Je had a premonition of the future, for he always spoke to Mu Jon in this manner.”
―Elder brother. If I should die suddenly, you must become the Alliance Lord in my stead.
Mu Jon could not comprehend it.
How could the foremost master of the Orthodox Path die so abruptly? Even Ma Cheon Je, that fearsome demon, could not guarantee victory against him.
―How could such a thing occur?
Mu Jon had always laughed off such words, or so the story went.
Then one day, after Mu Jon returned from handling several matters in the Gangho,
he entered the office of Gunkon Pavilion through the secret passage of the Murim Alliance to meet his younger brother.
But what awaited him in the office was the cold corpse of Sin Do Mu Bi.
No matter how thoroughly he examined it, he could discern neither the cause nor the reason for the death.
Mu Jon fell into immediate chaos.
―Must I become the Alliance Lord as my younger brother requested?
Though he had reached a level of martial mastery nearly equal to Jeong Cheon Je, he had spent his entire life wandering without fixed purpose, living like a drifting weed.
Moreover, his relations with the senior figures of the Murim Alliance were extremely poor, so he harbored not the slightest desire to become the Alliance Lord.
Yet after much deliberation, Mu Jon resolved to honor Jeong Cheon Je’s will.
For if left as it was, the balance of the Orthodox Path would collapse entirely.
However, since he could not become the Alliance Lord through normal means, he decided to conceal his death
and, while governing the Murim Alliance as its Lord, restore the balance between the Orthodox Path and the Demonic Path once more.
“I see.”
After hearing the entire account, Bu Eunseol’s mind flooded with countless questions.
Were all of Mu Jon’s words truly factual?
Even if Jeong Cheon Je had spoken thus, was concealing his death and pretending to be the Alliance Lord truly the best course?
He was a man of such exceptional wisdom and cunning that he possessed another identity as Shin San Ja.
Why would he deliberately conceal Jeong Cheon Je’s death
and employ such a perilous stratagem?
Knock, knock.
Just then, a knock sounded at the secret chamber door, accompanied by a low voice.
“Chief, Yeong Seon Dang has delivered a letter for you.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes gleamed at once.
Mu Jon always used Yeong Seon Dang when sending correspondence.
“How timely that Mu Jon has sent a reply.”
She read through the letter received from her adjutant, her expression growing hollow.
“An unwelcome reply, at that.”
“What does it say?”
“He apologizes, saying that circumstances have changed suddenly.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong added one more thing.
“And he asks that, if possible, Seon Woo Dae Ju be nominated as a candidate for Mu Cheon Danjoo, but that is an impossible matter.”
Since Gong Son Dan Gyeong holds the position of Chief, it would not be impossible to elevate Bu Eunseol to the rank of Lord.
But for someone of Lord rank to become a candidate for Danjoo…
To suddenly elevate a first-rank Lord who has accomplished nothing of note to the rank of Lord would be not merely unconventional,
To this day, Seon Woo Jin had not yet been publicly recognized as possessing the capabilities of a Lord candidate capable of leading Wu Tian Duan.
Moreover, the Murim Alliance placed great importance on public opinion and societal evaluation.
However, such recognition could never be elevated in a short span of time.
In other words, from the perspective of the Murim Alliance’s senior members,
Seon Woo Jin was too young to become the Wu Tian Danjoo, and his abilities were still insufficient.
‘It is not that my resolve has wavered, but rather that the circumstances have changed…’
Bu Eunseol, who had been lost in silent contemplation, swallowed hard.
Mu Jon’s true identity was Shin San Ja.
In other words, he was someone who knew her original identity.
What if he had not deliberately attempted to remove Bu Eunseol from consideration as a Lord candidate,
but rather
had made this decision due to truly unavoidable circumstances?
For Bu Eunseol to become a Lord candidate was not an impossible feat with her abilities.
“Until now, I have cultivated relationships with numerous influential figures and worked behind the scenes to establish Seon Woo Dae Ju as the Wu Tian Danjoo.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke without conviction.
“But now that matters have unfolded this way, all of that effort has come to naught.”
Her expression darkened.
She had confidently promised Bu Eunseol that she would elevate her to Wu Tian Danjoo.
With that single promise, she had entrusted Bu Eunseol with numerous dangerous missions.
But now that circumstances had shifted thus…she could no longer keep Bu Eunseol bound to her as her own person.
‘In the end, it was all inevitable.’
Bu Eunseol gazed into the void and swallowed a deep sigh.
Did destiny truly exist?
That such events would unfold precisely when Gwon Wang became Sal Gwi?
Was this not an opportunity being granted to me to become a Lord candidate?
―I shall elevate Seon Woo Jin’s status to the Four Gods Seven Kings as well!
My resolve had finally crystallized.
Through Gwon Wang, I would also elevate Seon Woo Jin to an advisory position within the Four Gods Seven Kings, making him a Lord candidate.
“No. Continue with the preparations.”
“Pardon?”
“I shall immediately venture into Gangho and prove to the senior members of the Alliance that I possess the qualifications and abilities worthy of becoming a Lord candidate.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong furrowed her brow.
“You believe that is possible within such a short timeframe?”
“Did not Baek Dae Ju accomplish the same?”
“Ah.”
She let out an exclamation.
She had grasped the deeper meaning behind Bu Eunseol’s words, and the mention of a figure she had wished to avoid discussing had surfaced.
“I understand. If Seon Woo Dae Ju can accomplish such a feat…that would be most ideal.”
Since one could become a Lord candidate even from the position of a noble family patriarch, she would trust Bu Eunseol and prepare step by step.
“I was also planning to discuss that matter.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, her expression uncomfortable, hesitated before finally speaking.
“Baek Mu Sung. His return is far too convenient. To have brought back the head of the Demon Hall’s Dharma Protector Division in this situation…”
She drew a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with intensity.
“It cannot possibly be unrelated to the selection of the next Wu Tian Duan Lord.”
Bu Eunseol answered as if she knew nothing.
“Is that not a fortunate development? With Lord Baek’s return, the Ben Maeng will surely regain its vitality.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong fixed her gaze upon Bu Eunseol, as though attempting to peer into her very heart.
When Bu Eunseol did not answer, she spoke again.
“In any case, with such martial prowess and achievements to his name, he will certainly become a candidate for Wu Tian Duan Lord. For Seon Woo Dae Ju, this means a far more formidable rival than the Sixth Lord.”
“How fortunate.”
“Pardon?”
“Such an exceptional individual becoming Lord would not be unfavorable for the Ben Maeng.”
“Even if he becomes Lord, Seon Woo Dae Ju could offer genuine congratulations?”
“Of course.”
It was a lie.
In the past, had Baek Mu Sung become Wu Tian Duan Lord, I would have offered sincere congratulations.
But now I know he is a figure of the Three Realms.
Yet seeing Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s darkened expression, I spoke this falsehood.
For we could never return to what we once were.
“I have spoken needlessly.”
Bu Eunseol offered a thin smile and clasped her hands together.
“Then I shall make haste to Gangho. I must become a candidate for Lord as quickly as possible.”
“I understand.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded.
“In the meantime, I shall cultivate the forces to support Seon Woo Dae Ju. So that he may become Lord.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, do you still maintain connections with the Moo Hon Ryeong Ju’s direct Information Division?”
“I do.”
“Excellent.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong withdrew a letter from her garments and extended it to Bu Eunseol.
“Deliver this to him. Tell him that if the Chief requires assistance, I shall aid him at any time.”
Her gaze was serene, yet the flames smoldering in its depths refused to diminish.
‘The Infinite Realm was not her ultimate objective.’
Only then did I understand why she had shown no particular reaction even as the Infinite Realm crumbled.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s true target lay elsewhere.
‘With the power of the Infinite Realm alone, one could topple the entire Murim Tianxia. What enemy has she made?’
Since I knew nothing of what had transpired between Gong Son Dan Gyeong and the Jung Sun Ga, my curiosity could only intensify.
“Let us depart together.”
At that moment, Gong Son Dan Gyeong rose from her seat and spoke.
“I have business to attend to near the North Gate as well.”
“I see.”
Dismissing the questions swirling through my mind, I walked alongside her out of the Eun Wol Gak.
Tap, tap, tap.
Then a man in white robes approached from the opposite direction.
In that instant, both Gong Son Dan Gyeong and I widened our eyes as if by prior arrangement.
Baek Mu Sung. It was he walking toward us.
―This was no coincidence.
In Baek Mu Sung’s gaze lay not anger, but contempt.
Which meant he knew that I and Gong Son Dan Gyeong were together.
And he had deliberately timed his appearance here.
“Chief.”
Baek Mu Sung approached Gong Son Dan Gyeong with a welcoming smile.
His qi had grown even more refined, and the arm that had been completely severed from his nerves now moved freely.
“It’s been a while.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong greeted him warmly.
“I heard the news. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“How is your body?”
“Completely recovered.”
Unlike his gentle demeanor of the past, Baek Mu Sung’s tone had become grave and heavy.
“Seon Woo Dae Ju is here as well, I see.”
Baek Mu Sung nodded while regarding me.
“Have you been well?”
“Lord Baek.”
I approached warmly and spoke to him.
“What happened? Why did you leave without a word all this time?”
Though I knew Baek Mu Sung had changed completely, I spoke to him familiarly so he wouldn’t notice my awareness.
“There were circumstances that warranted it.”
Baek Mu Sung’s voice remained as gentle and composed as before.
Yet his eyes gazing upon me were frozen as cold as the glaciers of the Northern Sea.
“It’s good to see you both again like this.”
Baek Mu Sung smiled, revealing white teeth.
“But I’m busy with various matters… If time permits next time, let’s share a cup of tea together. Then.”
And with that, he turned away calmly.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong watched his receding figure with a dazed expression.
The man of the past would have been flustered upon seeing her, unable to hide his affection.
But now, wasn’t there something about him that seemed not merely indifferent, as if passing a stranger, but rather carried a glint of contempt?
“He has changed greatly.”
At Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s words, I nodded in agreement.
Even saying he had merely “changed” fell short of the truth.
For Baek Mu Sung’s martial prowess had advanced by leaps and bounds beyond anything his past self could achieve.
His gentle expression now concealed eyes that had grown cold and distant.
It was as though his very nature and character had transformed into that of an entirely different person.
“Seon Woo Dae Ju.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke to Bu Eunseol in a hushed voice.
“You must return having accomplished deeds worthy of candidacy for Mu Cheon Danjoo.”
Her eyes and voice trembled slightly.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong found snakes the most repulsive creatures in the world.
And the transformed Baek Mu Sung felt to her like a great serpent wearing human form.
If he became the Lord, she feared he might devour her.
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully with clasped hands and turned to leave.
She needed to immediately deal with Gwon Wang, who had become Sal Gwi.
Seon Woo Jin would likewise be seated as an advisor to the Four Gods Seven Kings, proving he was worthy of becoming Mu Cheon Danjoo.
* * *
Thud, thud, thud.
Gwon Wang—Seok Chi Haeng—stared down at the blood flowing from his clenched fists.
He had lost count of how many he had beaten to death.
His knuckles were stained crimson, and human remains clung beneath his fingernails.
“Ugh…”
Yet the rage that erupted from within could not be suppressed.
There was only one thing he had desired his entire life.
Even if he remained a gatekeeper forever, all he wanted was to stay by Bi Yeon’s side.
Had it not been for her, his existence would have vanished long ago.
“Ugh…”
Seok Chi Haeng, who had been gazing at the full moon hanging in the night sky, trembled.
Suddenly, the day he first met her came flooding back.
—Shall I help you?
In the past, Seok Chi Haeng had encountered In Ma Ak Moo Ryeong, said to be the strongest among Samma, purely by chance.
And he had charged forward with confidence.
He believed his Chuang Cheon Chil Sik would be more than sufficient to face even In Ma Ak Moo Ryeong.
But the result was devastating.
He was defeated in mere seconds, both fists shattered.
—A worm who cannot even gauge his own strength… not even worth killing.
As Seok Chi Haeng knelt with vacant eyes, Ak Moo Ryeong departed with a scoff.
Before a small forest path where no one else existed, Seok Chi Haeng remained kneeling like a stone statue.
Gwon Wang with shattered fists was no longer Gwon Wang.
There was no longer even hope to continue living.
His lips had grown parched, and his vision blurred before his eyes.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like at least two weeks had gone by.
Starving to death like this wouldn’t have been so bad.
For a praying mantis ignorant of its own limitations to spread its arms and block a great cart—it was precisely the punishment I deserved.
―What? I thought you were a statue.
Then suddenly, a woman appeared before Seok Chi Haeng.
―What is it? Are you cultivating martial arts? Or nursing a broken heart?
The woman who had appeared so abruptly chattered endlessly at Seok Chi Haeng.
Then, seeing his two shattered fists, she burst into laughter.
―What? Were you despairing that you’d never be able to use chopsticks again for the rest of your life?
She poked his shoulders repeatedly as he stood there like a stone statue.
―Should I heal you?
Only then did Seok Chi Haeng’s eyes open.
His bones had been pulverized into powder, scattered in all directions. Even if Hwa Ta were reborn, such an injury would be beyond healing.
How could this young woman possibly treat his arms?
―Though there might be side effects. Are you alright with that?
Seeing that the woman was sincere, Seok Chi Haeng nodded without hesitation.
Even if his legs were destroyed, it mattered not. Even if he could never walk again, he didn’t care.
As long as his two fists remained intact… he could unfurl his fist techniques once more.
―Then follow me.
Seok Chi Haeng followed the young woman, walking ceaselessly, on and on.
And finally, they arrived at a house with strange mushroom-shaped trees.
―This is Gokgeomrim. A place cut off from the world.
And soon the treatment began.
Contrary to her words, there were no side effects.
Simply by soaking his two fists daily in a strange metal and liquid, they were regenerating perfectly.
―It’s remarkable. Your body’s nature must have been naturally compatible with this Black Pearl Elixir?
She smiled brightly, delighted for him.
―With about a hundred more days of treatment, you should recover completely.
Seok Chi Haeng too wore a smile brimming with joy.
Once he was fully healed soon enough.
He resolved to seek out Ak Moo Ryung once more and imprint the Seven Forms of Piercing Heaven upon his face without fail.
But the side effects emerged in a completely unexpected place.
Finally, on the three-hundredth day, his fists were perfectly healed, yet… his heart had broken instead.
He had fallen for Bi Yeon, the woman who had fixed his fists—someone who appeared thirty years younger than himself.
―Let me remain by your side for all my life.
Seok Chi Haeng dared not hope to become her lover.
If only he could live watching her smile, if only he could hear her cheerful voice…
He thought it wouldn’t matter even if both his arms were gone instead of just his fists.
―You seem sincere about this.
Realizing that Seok Chi Haeng was sincere.
She gave him the position of gatekeeper at Gokgeomrim and ordered him to deal with anyone who tried to breach this place.
In exchange, he was allowed to spend one double hour each day in the place where she lived.
Though it was merely being by her side, that alone was enough to satisfy him.
―You do not age. Perhaps it is because of that dark divine technique.
After serving as gatekeeper for a long time, Seok Chi Haeng came to understand that she was far older than him.
He also learned of Gokgeomrim’s purpose and secrets.
―If you know now, leave even at this moment. Should you not seek out your own life?

At Bi Yeon’s words, Seok Chi Haeng smiled softly.
―This is the life I desire.
Whether the world perished or crumbled mattered not to me.
As long as she remained by my side.
I only wished to stay beside her until my final breath.
Yet that happiness ultimately shattered into fragments.
A young man appeared at some point and subdued Hyung Su, and when I opened my eyes, Gokgeomrim lay in complete ruin.
I cried out searching for her, but all that greeted my eyes was the devastated remains of Gokgeomrim.
―I will kill him!
Seok Chi Haeng tried to find the young man who had pierced his Blood Sealing Point, but his whereabouts remained unknown.
Wandering through Gangho, whenever I saw young men of similar appearance, I struck them down, and before long, I became consumed by an endless thirst for blood.
When I killed someone and blood erupted in all directions, the anguish and despair that had welled up in my chest.
And the longing, would subside somewhat.
Continuing this slaughter, I eventually became Sal Gwi, consumed by murderous madness.
And this slaughter will continue until I find that young man who came secretly to Gokgeomrim.
Until I tear him limb from limb and drink his blood.

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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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