The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 73

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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 73.
Seo Mun Gyeong’s sclera, reddened with rage, was bloodshot.
“You can see through all my sword techniques because you stole a glimpse of the Seo Mun Family’s Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation, didn’t you!”
“I know nothing of formations. I’ve never even studied them.”
“What?”
“You’ve polished your sword without ever truly fighting.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed with contempt.
“You picked up the sword techniques you were taught quickly, so you earned the reputation of a sword prodigy. As a descendant of the family, you’ve only practiced forms while postponing the dangers of real combat.”
Seo Mun Gyeong showed a flicker of surprise.
How could this person know the intimate details of his past?
“Otherwise, why would you mix footwork into sword techniques that should be executed with full power without reservation?”
“I didn’t mix sword techniques with footwork—I unified the strengths of different martial arts!”
At Seo Mun Gyeong’s cry, Bu Eunseol’s lips curved upward.
“That is something only those who have endured countless real battles can say. It is not something a novice who cannot properly unleash the power of sword techniques in actual combat should claim.”
“A novice?”
“Mastering sword forms and sword strikes does not complete a sword technique. Only when you can execute your techniques flawlessly in life-or-death combat can you truly say you have mastered them.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Seo Mun Gyeong’s body trembled.
Since childhood, Seo Mun Gyeong had been called a sword prodigy and bore the full weight of the family head’s expectations.
But perhaps those expectations had been too great?
Rather than accumulating real combat experience, Seo Mun Gyeong had devoted himself to learning diverse sword techniques from renowned masters.
―Learning sword techniques is good, but what of venturing into Gangho?
At the family head’s suggestion, Seo Mun Gyeong had replied with confidence.
―Once I complete the Ascending Sword Technique that will not lose to anyone, I will venture forth then.
The family head had always smiled and patted his shoulder at Seo Mun Gyeong’s confident words.
―Gyeong, if you become a great swordsman, the martial world will call our family the Pinnacle of Both Culture and Martial Arts!
Recalling the past, Seo Mun Gyeong lowered his head.
‘Was I nothing but a frog in a well?’
Had I experienced diverse real battles, I would never have combined the Meteor Thirteen Sword Techniques with the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation.
“But…”
Seo Mun Gyeong raised his deformed sword overhead and let out a thunderous cry.
“I will not lose to you!”
Whoosh!
In that instant, dozens of sword shadows erupted from the ground where Bu Eunseol stood.
Seo Mun Gyeong had unleashed the final pinnacle of the Meteor Heart Eighteen Techniques—Moonlight Star Sparse.
Flash!
In that moment, brilliant light bloomed from Bu Eunseol’s hand.
Boom!
That light became dozens of luminous points that shattered Seo Mun Gyeong’s sword shadows, and without pause, it poured forth toward him.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
As Seo Mun Gyeong blocked the light with all his strength, sparks scattered, and—
Crack, crack, crack.
The blade of the Deformed Sword shattered into dozens of fragments, scattering across the floor.
“Moonlight Eclipses Stars… a technique befitting defeat.”
Moonlight Eclipses Stars. When the moon shines brightly, starlight grows dim.
In other words, when a superior hero emerges, other heroes have no choice but to fade quietly into obscurity.
“I… have lost.”
Seo Mun Gyeong, who had hurled the shattered Deformed Sword away, left the Combat Stage with his head bowed.
―So the championship favorite, Seo Mun Gyeong, has suffered a devastating defeat….
The spectators were left in shock.
Seo Mun Gyeong had consistently been called a genius of the blade, earning tremendous renown.
Though the rumor had originated from the Seo Mun Family, it had been corroborated through the mouths of countless masters who had taught him, proving it was no mere fabrication.
―Seo Mun Gyeong was not weak.
The skill Seo Mun Gyeong displayed at the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe exceeded that of even the finest swordsmen of Gangho. Bu Eunseol was simply stronger.
“….”
Though the victor was decided, the plaza fell into a silence as profound as death.
“The victor is Bu Eunseol, the Young Heroine!”
Cho Mun Cheon’s voice rang out, yet not a sound came from the Spectator Stands.
* * *
Within Donghyo Seorang stood several grand halls.
Geum Hwa Heon.
Inside the reception chamber of the building, upon which hung a gilt nameplate, sat a boy dressed in black.
It was Heuk Pyo, who had signed a three-year contract with Bu Eunseol.
And facing him sat a middle-aged man in colorful robes.
His features were reasonably distinct, but his face was fleshy and slick with oil.
It was Ok Ho Bang, the Money Ghost who managed all the finances of Donghyo Seorang.
“So you’ve made a contract with that woman, Bu Eunseol?”
“Yes.”
“Three years, you say….”
Ok Ho Bang, examining the contract on the table, shook his head.
“I cannot permit this.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going regardless.”
Something felt off about this atmosphere.
The way Ok Ho Bang looked at Heuk Pyo was warm—as though gazing upon his own blood, not a subordinate.
“Do you resent me?”
Heuk Pyo said nothing.
Ok Ho Bang was well aware that Yeop Hwa had been committing indecencies for a long time.
Yet he had been unable to stop it, because of Donghyo Seorang’s rules.
If one performed their duties well, that was all that mattered; no one had the right to sanction the circumstances and secrets of the ronin.
“This organization is merely a gathering of ronin. We are not a righteous sect. Ronin themselves are often those burdened with dark pasts.”
“That is merely an excuse.”
Heuk Pyo bit his lip.
“Many wanderers have left their dark pasts behind and found new lives here at Donghyo Seorang. But to simply ignore those who continue committing crimes…”
“The majority of wanderers at Donghyo Seorang are practitioners of heterodox arts. Yeop Hwa was one of them.”
“Aren’t you confusing that with the term ‘demonic heretics’?”
Heuk Pyo spoke coldly.
“You’ve accepted even those who are pointed at and scorned throughout the martial world, all in the name of expanding Donghyo Seorang’s influence.”
“Most wanderers have a past of being scorned and ridiculed. It is rare to find a wanderer who has lived with unwavering righteousness.”
Ok Ho Bang spoke.
“Especially Bu Eunseol—her identity and purpose remain unclear. It’s strange enough that she possesses such high martial prowess at such a young age, but it’s equally strange that she entered the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe immediately upon her debut in the martial world.”
Ok Ho Bang paused briefly before continuing.
“I will personally dissolve the contract with her. If I offer double compensation, she should be satisfied.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Heuk Pyo spoke with unwavering resolve.
“I will follow her.”
“Ha Aya.”
“Don’t call me by that name! I am Heuk Pyo of Donghyo Seorang.”
In truth, Heuk Pyo was Ok Ho Bang’s illegitimate son.
In his youth, Ok Ho Bang had abandoned his lover and child, entered Donghyo Seorang, and achieved success—yet he regretted those days long past.
When his own son became a wanderer and entered Donghyo Seorang, Ok Ho Bang had been overjoyed.
But Heuk Pyo had become a wanderer while discarding even his own name, and he harbored deep hatred for Ok Ho Bang.
Was it because he had been abandoned? Of course, that was part of it. But the greatest reason was that Ok Ho Bang had transformed Donghyo Seorang into a den of demons.
Originally, the master of Donghyo Seorang was a person of high martial skill and justice.
But four years ago, when he entered seclusion, he entrusted all authority of Donghyo Seorang to Ok Ho Bang. And that had been a mistake.
Thereafter, Ok Ho Bang had hired numerous ruthless wanderers driven solely by profit to expand his own power.
Individuals like Yeop Hwa, precisely.
“How long will you continue to defy your own father!”
Ok Ho Bang spoke through gritted teeth.
“If you persist in this manner, I can unleash the masters of Donghyo Seorang to eliminate her!”
“Whom do you speak of? Young Master Bu?”
“Yes.”
Heuk Pyo laughed coldly.
“Then do it.”
“What did you say?”
“If you wish to see Donghyo Seorang collapse entirely, you may proceed.”
“Ha Aya!”
“To stop her, the master who entered seclusion would need to return.”
Heuk Pyo turned sharply and walked out with heavy footsteps.
Ok Ho Bang stared after him, then called out sharply.
“Ma Young!”
“Ma Young!”
At that, the young warrior standing outside the door bowed his head.
“Your orders, sir.”
“Has the investigation into Bu Eunseol not yet been completed?”
“That is…”
“Which faction does she belong to? What purpose brought her to the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe? You’re telling me you still don’t know?”
Ma Young lowered his head.
“My apologies. It appears someone is deliberately blocking the information.”
“What?”
“She has no past whatsoever—as if she simply fell from the sky.”
“Surely there must be some information available!”
Ma Young spoke with a troubled expression.
“Among those of her age, the only Bu Eunseol we could find was a young inspector affiliated with the Hwangju Constabulary.”
“An inspector?”
“Yes. But it cannot be her.”
Ma Young continued.
“Bu Eunseol possesses not only exceptional martial skill but also considerable inner energy. Otherwise, she could never have severed Young Ji Wi’s precious blade with an iron sword.”
“True—inner energy cannot be cultivated in a short span of time.”
Ok Ho Bang nodded.
“There’s nothing to be done about it.”
After drawing a brief breath, he spoke.
“Assign Mu Sam Rang to shadow her.”
“Mu Sam Rang? You mean that man?”
Mu Sam Rang was one of the martial artists who had made a covert arrangement with Ok Ho Bang for this Jeong Mu Dae Hoe.
The Yeong Sa Shin Geom was merely bait to invigorate his first-ever tournament. Through these contracted warriors, he intended to reclaim the prize money.
“Are you certain? If something goes wrong… not only will he be greatly displeased, but Donghyo Seorang will not escape unscathed.”
“You understand little.”
Ok Ho Bang let out a low chuckle.
“Mu Sam Rang is a master sent directly by the Lord.”
Ok Ho Bang narrowed his eyes and scoffed.
“No matter how exceptional that fool is, he can never defeat Mu Sam Rang.”
* * *
“We shall now commence the semifinals of the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe!”
With Cho Mun Cheon’s proclamation, the roar of the crowd erupted.
Now the true tournament began.
The remaining masters possessed martial techniques rarely seen even in Gangho.
Many had journeyed to distant Guizhou for no other reason than to witness the battles beyond the semifinals.
“This match pits Bu Eunseol, the Constable, against Mu Sam Rang, the Wanderer!”
A shadow flickered.
Then a dark silhouette ascended the Combat Stage first—Mu Sam Rang.
He possessed a robust frame, draped in a glossy black robe and an ink-dark wind cloak.
Additionally, a black mask covered his face, making him look like a black ghost standing from a distance.
“Mu Sam Rang has consistently defeated his opponents using only ordinary techniques.”
Heuk Pyo, standing beside Bu Eunseol, spoke in a low voice.
“His true martial arts are likely beyond imagination. You must be cautious, Young Master.”
“Understood.”
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol ascended the Combat Stage.
The moment our eyes met with Mu Sam Rang’s, I wore a peculiar expression.
Having deeply mastered the practical martial arts of Nangya Sect, I could gauge the depth of someone’s martial skill simply by observing their stance.
‘A master.’
Only after meeting Mu Sam Rang’s gaze did I immediately recognize that he was a master capable of standing as my equal.
‘Strangely familiar.’
Having practiced bone reading for so long, I could remember the skeletal structure hidden beneath clothing as clearly as a human face.
Mu Sam Rang’s bone structure, his stance, and the gleam in his eyes were all remarkably familiar to me.
“Begin!”
At Cho Mun Cheon’s cry, I drew my sword.
Shing.
This was the first time throughout the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe that I had drawn my sword first.
Mu Sam Rang was that formidable.
“Hmm.”
Yet Mu Sam Rang’s demeanor was strange.
He stood with his arms crossed, showing no intention to fight, merely gazing at me silently.
“If you will not come, then I shall strike first.”
I gripped the hilt of my sword.
‘I must unleash my true power.’
Until now, I had claimed victory using only ordinary techniques and martial fundamentals.
But now the time had come to reveal all the strength I had concealed and clash with it.
The moment I raised my sword to the center and prepared to unfold my swordsmanship,
“I concede.”
Mu Sam Rang, still with arms crossed, spoke in a low voice.
“I have lost.”
In that instant, the martial artists in the plaza could not hide their bewildered expressions.
Mu Sam Rang had been a formidable contender for the championship, rivaling Bu Eunseol. So why had he suddenly conceded?
“Mu Soheop. Do you truly mean to concede?”
At Cho Mun Cheon’s words, Mu Sam Rang nodded without hesitation and turned away.
Tap.
Watching Mu Sam Rang soar away using his movement technique, Cho Mun Cheon had no choice but to point toward me.
“With Mu Soheop’s concession, the victor is Bu Eunseol, Bu Soheop!”
Murmur, murmur.
The martial artists among the spectators could not contain their bewilderment at this incomprehensible turn of events, speaking loudly among themselves.
The same held true for Ok Ho Bang, who faced Mu Sam Rang at the Geum Hwa Heon.
“What in blazes are you doing!”
“What do you mean, what am I doing?”
“You’ve broken your promise!”
Mu Sam Rang, his face concealed behind a mask, looked down at Ok Ho Bang as he spoke.
“Wasn’t your promise to forfeit at the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe and present the Yeongsa Divine Sword to him?”
“That’s correct.”
“Yet you abandoned the match midway? Isn’t that breaking your word?”
“I haven’t broken it.”
As Ok Ho Bang opened his mouth, Mu Sam Rang’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“As planned, if he achieves victory at the Jeong Mu Dae Hoe, that’s all that matters. My presence or absence changes nothing.”
“That may be true, but… why did you suddenly abandon the fight?”
“That man once belonged to the same place I did.”
Ok Ho Bang flinched momentarily, then shook his head.
“He… he was a master from that place?”
“In the past, I said.”
Confused by the cryptic response, Ok Ho Bang furrowed his brow.
“What do you mean by that? Are you saying he became the Lord of the Demon Palace or something?”
“One of the Ten Demon Experts.”
Mu Sam Rang, his cold gaze fixed upon Ok Ho Bang, spoke in an ominous tone.
“He is one of the Ten Demon Experts of the Nangya Sect.”

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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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