The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 745

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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 745.
Song Ak chattered away merrily, indifferent to whether Bu Eunseol’s expression hardened or not.
“When a child falls into water, adults unhesitatingly rush to save them. This proves that humans are inherently good.”
Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed deeply.
Suddenly, a conversation I had shared with my grandfather in the past surfaced in my mind.
―Are newborns good or evil?
In the past, I had posed this very question to Bu Chanyang.
―From your perspective, grandfather.
Bu Chanyang always said that good and evil were matters of perspective.
They changed depending on how one viewed them.
That was why I had added this caveat to my question.
―This old man thinks it this way.
Bu Chanyang had said.
―Perhaps humans aren’t inherently good or evil, but rather are born divided into those with inherently good or evil natures.
When I blinked, Bu Chanyang spoke again.
―Just as each human’s appearance differs, perhaps each person is born with a different nature.
―So you’re saying some people are inherently good and others are inherently evil?
―That’s right.
Bu Chanyang added further.
―That’s why education and experience are so important. They possess the great power to transform even one’s innate nature.
As my recollection ended, my gaze deepened.
I had always believed humans were fundamentally evil.
Even setting aside memories from my vagrant days.
While serving as a Yeomsa, I was despised and scorned by people for no reason whatsoever.
But Bu Chanyang’s teachings.
And the presence of Bu Chanyang himself—an infinitely virtuous being—standing before me allowed me to change that belief.
And through that, I too could maintain the Middle Way.
“When you save someone from drowning, humans demand you hand over your bundle. That is humanity.”
Dismissing my idle thoughts, I spoke calmly.
“There’s no need to reach extreme conclusions about good and evil. Humans are fundamentally far too complex beings.”
“Ah, but listen well. According to the teachings of our sect….”
I countered.
Song Ak instead grew animated and expounded upon the Wudang Sect’s doctrine.
In truth, he had entered the Wudang Sect wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Therefore, everything he saw in the world was what Wudang had shown him.
All the knowledge and values in his mind had been instilled by Wudang.
‘Refuting him with words won’t accomplish anything.’
Remembering that point, I ceased my counterarguments and simply listened to Song Ak’s words in silence.
No matter what I said, it wouldn’t convince him.
[Sal Gwi has appeared again.]
At that moment, So Yo’s voice transmission reached me across a thousand li.
[There’s a village about forty li to the north.]
‘In broad daylight?’
Those afflicted with murderous madness after being infused with demonic qi had always begun their slaughter at night.
Yet the killing had commenced even before the sun had set?
“What is the matter?”
Song Ak asked upon noticing Bu Eunseol’s hardened expression.
“Killing Ghost has appeared in the village forty li away.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Remain here for now. I shall handle everything and bring back the common folk corrupted by demonic qi.”
Whoosh!
As Bu Eunseol unleashed her divine technique,
“If Killing Ghost appeared in daylight, doesn’t that mean evil spirits are nearby?”
Song Ak, who had been muttering softly, quickly followed in Bu Eunseol’s wake.
Swooosh.
The Wudang Sect’s divine technique was not swift, but it moved as lightly as clouds floating in the sky, consuming minimal inner energy.
Thud.
Upon arriving at the village following Bu Eunseol, Song Ak gazed around and opened his mouth.
“This… this is.”
It was truly Hell Island laid bare before us.
People lay scattered as fragments, and blood flowed like a stream.
“Song Ak.”
Bu Eunseol looked at Song Ak and shook her head.
“Do not look further. Remain where you are.”
And she walked deeper inside.
Song Ak, trembling, ignored the warning and slowly followed in Bu Eunseol’s footsteps.
Clench.
Upon discovering something, Bu Eunseol clenched her fist tightly. Then she walked toward the well visible ahead.
There lay a pregnant woman carrying a child.
Brutally slaughtered alongside a young child.
The pregnant woman had curled up, clutching the child tightly to protect it.
Yet Killing Ghost showed no mercy, tearing both the woman and child to death with savage cruelty.
“Why… is the unborn child in her womb missing?”
Song Ak asked with a trembling voice as he drew near.
The torn belly of the woman lay completely empty.
Bu Eunseol did not answer, only gently closing the woman’s eyes with a solemn expression.
“Ugh.”
Flames of fury blazed in Song Ak’s eyes.
Until now, they had only treated common folk possessed by demonic qi.
He had never imagined such horrific scenes would unfold in the wake of Killing Ghost’s passage.
But witnessing the atrocities committed by the Killing Ghosts with my own eyes, I found it utterly impossible to contain my rage.
“We’ve detected an Evil Spirit being infused with demonic energy near eighty li northeast, where the Nang In Jeon Dan operatives are.”
At that moment, So Yo descended from the void and relayed the information aloud.
“Since it’s with a Killing Ghost, we need to capture it quickly.”
“Grrrrr.”
Upon hearing this, Song Ak, who had been growling low,
“Raaaagh!”
unleashed a roar and unfurled his Je Woon form, launching himself above the Half-Sky.
Consumed by fury, he sought to locate and eliminate the Evil Spirit before Bu Eunseol could.
Whoooosh!
As Song Ak charged forward with violent air-splitting sounds, his eyes burned crimson and the veins on his forehead stood rigid.
Upon reaching a vast clearing within the forest, Song Ak discovered
a strange Masked Assassin surrounded by Nang In Jeon Dan operatives and a Killing Ghost drooling profusely from its mouth.
The Masked Assassin was enveloped in a bizarre force like a protective barrier, effortlessly deflecting every attack the operatives unleashed.
Meanwhile, the drooling Killing Ghost bounded about on all fours like a beast, parrying the assaults.
“You!”
Upon spotting fresh blood smeared across the Killing Ghost’s hands, Song Ak’s eyes blazed with fury.
Shiiing!
Drawing his long sword, Song Ak unleashed a thunderous shout.
“Why!”
Fwoooosh!
Hundreds of sword qi strands erupted outward, piercing sharply into the Killing Ghost’s vital Blood Sealing Points.
The gentle sword technique of the Wudang Sect, renowned as the Non-Killing Blade, had transformed into the Swift Killing Sword Form.
“A Taoist Priest of Wudang.”
As Song Ak attacked, the Masked Assassin seemed delighted, expanding his protective barrier to shield the Killing Ghost.
“Why, exactly!”
Ssssshhhhk!
With each circle Song Ak’s ancient sword traced through the air, the Masked Assassin’s protective barrier crumbled.
“How dare you slaughter innocent women and children so brutally!”
Screech. Thud!
Song Ak pushed his sword technique to its absolute limit.
The Masked Assassin had not anticipated that a Wudang Taoist Priest could wield such devastating power with the Ultimate Swift Killing Form, and he flailed his hands in panic.
Shatter!
In that instant, the sword qi pouring from his blade became a torrent of energy, mercilessly severing the Masked Assassin’s limbs and meridians.
“Why commit such heinous acts!”
Song Ak’s long sword, blazing with the inferno of righteous fury, aimed for the Masked Assassin’s throat.
There was no way to quell the rage surging within without taking his life.
Screech.
In the end, the Masked Assassin fell to Song Ak’s blade.
Without ceasing his assault, he unleashed continuous waves of sword qi at the Killing Ghost bounding about near the Evil Spirit.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sal Gwi moved like a madman, evading the torrent of sword energy pouring down upon him.
“Heh heh.”
Just as Sal Gwi, having dodged the sword energy that cascaded like a tempest, shrugged his shoulders as if to show off,
“Where are you looking?”
Song Ak had already materialized behind him, his eyes blazing like embers.
“Gack!”
Sensing the danger, Sal Gwi immediately tried to flip his body around and counterattack,
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, his neck flew upward into the night sky.
Patter, patter, patter.
Spraying blood fell like rain. Only after the droplets struck his face did Song Ak regain his senses.
“I….”
Song Ak had always prided himself on having experienced every hardship the Gangho had to offer.
He had thwarted the atrocities of infamous Demonic Heads who had made their names in the Murim, and captured criminals who had committed brutal crimes of passion.
He had witnessed the Orthodox Sect’s martial artists turn into rivers of blood and mountains of corpses in power struggles.
He had fallen into the sinister schemes and traps of cunning Evil Sect members countless times.
But never before had he witnessed anything like this.
Without any reason.
Without any purpose whatsoever.
Just slaughter for slaughter’s sake—such cruel and vicious acts.
“Was everything I experienced truly nothing?”
Song Ak lowered his head.
The forces Bu Eunseol faced were completely different from the common evils and factional massacres one typically encountered in the Gangho.
These were demons wearing human skin, committing slaughter without purpose or restraint.
“Ryeong Ju.”
A cold, murderous intent flowed from Song Ak’s eyes as he gazed upon Bu Eunseol.
“From now on, I shall join you in hunting these Evil Spirits.”
Now that he understood the truth, he could no longer stand idle.
Song Ak was now determined to hunt Evil Spirits in earnest alongside Bu Eunseol.
* * *
Scrape! Clang!
A fierce battle erupted between the Nang In Jeon Dan, who had located another Evil Spirit’s hiding place, and the Evil Spirit itself.
And leading the charge was Song Ak.
Clang! Boom!
He not only continuously channeled his Jade Dew True Energy to save the innocent civilians possessed by Evil Spirits, but also took the vanguard in combat against them.
“Will he be alright?”
Do Cheon Rin, who led the Nang In Jeon Dan and watched Song Ak’s battle from afar,
gazed at Song Ak with worried eyes.
“That Taoist Priest shows signs of falling into Heart Demon.”
What is too pure and clean becomes easily tainted by filth.
Tan Wang Buk Gung-ryeong, who had spent a lifetime aiding the weak and punishing the wicked,
now gazed upon his own ugly, unvarnished truth hidden beneath the prideful name of the Righteous Sect Alliance.
The dignity he had carried his entire life shattered, and confusion compounded upon confusion until he fell into demonic delusion.
Song Ak faced a similar predicament.
Possessing a pure and clean nature, I worried whether such events might not shake his values and worldview.
“Mm.”
Bu Eunseol exhaled softly and spoke with composure.
“Rather, he may be hoping for this change.”
“What?”
“The Wudang Sect has many masters with deeper cultivation and superior Taoist techniques. Yet Young Cheong Ja specifically designated Song Ak to investigate the Evil Spirits.”
He continued, watching Song Ak wildly wielding his blade.
“He is considered a candidate for the next sect leader. The Wudang Sect would not wish for his character to remain as pure and innocent as water.”
“So that was it.”
Do Cheon Rin nodded as if understanding for the first time.
A sect leader’s position cannot be held by someone of pristine, untainted character alone.
For the sake of the sect, one must be willing to soil their hands without hesitation.
It seemed the Wudang Sect had ordered the investigation of the Evil Spirits to transform Song Ak’s purely innocent nature.
“But it seems you are thinking too simply of this.”
Song Ak, having witnessed the Evil Spirits’ atrocities,
had shattered not only the teachings that all humans are inherently good, but also the very principle of non-killing that the Wudang Sect upholds.
“It seems he has forgotten not just his temperament, but even that he is a disciple of the Wudang Sect.”
“It will be fine.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with calm certainty.
“He is still young.”
Buk Gung-ryeong had walked a single path for eighty years,
living by the pride of the Righteous Path, making it difficult for his deeply rooted values to change.
But Song Ak is still young.
Though he may suffer great shock from the Evil Spirits’ cruel atrocities, his spirit will not be damaged to the point of falling into demonic delusion.
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
Do Cheon Rin shook his head as he spoke.
“In any case, these creatures are truly endless. Easier to deal with than Gwi Ah, but their numbers are incomparable.”
“There is no helping it.”
Bu Eunseol gazed toward the distant sky.
“We simply did not know. The Murim has been in this state for a long time.”
“But Sam Gye is also strange. Why did they not inform us of such information?”
Do Cheon Rin let out a snort.
“Had such things become known to the Murim, the righteous sects would have united and dealt with the Ma Gyo or whatever in a single stroke.”
“It is simple. First, it was to research and monopolize the functions of the experimental subjects sent by the Ma Gyo.”
Bu Eunseol spoke as if reciting.
“Second, it ensured that the Orthodox Sects could never unite. If a common enemy like this were to appear, the Murim would join forces to face it.”
Man Wol had said that Evil Spirits and Gwi Ah were test subjects, and the experiment was nearly complete.
Because of this, Bu Eunseol had been able to deduce such facts.
“Indeed, if a common enemy were to appear, that would certainly be the case.”
Do Cheon Rin stroked his chin.
“Then shouldn’t we inform the Murim about this even now?”
“The experiment is nearly complete, they said. This Evil Spirit is likely the last one.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes grew infinitely darker.
“In any case, by borrowing the power of Wudang, we intend to make it known that the Muhon Society is once again doing good deeds for the Murim.”
“But how exactly did you come to know such information?”
Do Cheon Rin asked with an expression of incomprehension.
“These are things that even the numerous intelligence organizations throughout the Murim couldn’t uncover. Even our own family doesn’t know of such matters.”
Bu Eunseol, recalling Man Wol’s beautiful face, shook her head.
She couldn’t possibly tell him that she had met a priestess of the Ma Gyo.
“I happened to learn of it by chance.”
“Leader.”
Just then, a wanderer with a scar across his face rushed toward Do Cheon Rin and clasped his hands together.
“Another Evil Spirit has been discovered.”
“Is that so?”
Thud, thud.
At that moment, Song Ak, who had finished his battle, approached Bu Eunseol and Do Cheon Rin, drenched in blood.
“I just heard that another Evil Spirit has been discovered.”
Though his fingernails were stained crimson from the blood that had dripped during the fierce battle, his gaze had instead grown calm.
‘His killing intent is gradually diminishing.’
Bu Eunseol nodded inwardly.
Song Ak was no longer consumed by rage. Because he was accepting it.
Not all humans are born virtuous.
And the principle of non-killing must also be chosen appropriately depending on circumstances.
To save many lives.
“Indeed. Let us head there at once.”
Bu Eunseol unhesitatingly led Song Ak toward the place where the Evil Spirit was hiding.
With each battle that continued, Song Ak would become increasingly capable of perfectly controlling his rage and killing intent.
* * *
Five more days had passed.
During that time, Bu Eunseol and Song Ak had dealt with eighty Evil Spirits that were infusing murderous intent into the common people.
And they had saved one hundred and thirty-two common people who had been corrupted by murderous intent.
But there was no end.
The Evil Spirits appeared ceaselessly, and the common people infused with murderous intent became Killing Ghosts, perpetually committing slaughter.
‘At this rate, there must be a source elsewhere.’
The Evil Spirits were little more than tools for infusing murderous intent into the common people, and their numbers were abnormally high.
Moreover, considering that they ignite when suppressed… it became certain that there was a root behind them, nurturing and manipulating them.
Around noon, Bu Eunseol and Song Ak climbed the steps to the inn side by side.
“Is something troubling you?”
Song Ak snorted when Bu Eunseol ordered thin noodles but sat vacantly.
“Eat plenty even if you have no appetite. You need strength to snap the necks of those vicious bastards, don’t you?”
In the meantime, Song Ak’s manner of speech had not only become coarser.
His once gentle eyes had grown sharp as an abandoned blade, and his voice had become as low and desolate as death itself.
From cutting down Evil Spirits again and again in bone-splitting blood battles,
he had become a martial artist so steeped in blood that even assassins would click their tongues in awe.
In Bu Eunseol’s eyes,
it was the process of becoming a complete martial artist who had truly tasted the bread of Gangho.
But if the Wudang Sect learned of this, they would be greatly shocked by the unexpected transformation.
Song Ak, who had been like still water,
had become a ruthless swordsman with no mercy in his hands.
‘I feel somewhat sorry.’
The Wudang Sect must have hoped Song Ak would adequately grasp the coldness and cruelty of Gangho.
But he, possessing such spotless purity, had accepted the coldness and cruelty of Gangho entirely.
‘If I had not sought help from the Wudang Sect…’
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
‘He would not have entered Gangho, and would not have changed so extremely.’
“Are you listening to me?”
Bu Eunseol, awakening from his reverie at Song Ak’s words, wore a bitter smile.
“I understand.”
And just as he forced himself to pick up his chopsticks,
a faint resonance was felt from somewhere.
It was the ghostly aura he had felt when first capturing an Evil Spirit.
Only the quantity was several times, no—dozens of times greater than the Evil Spirits he had first encountered.
Thud, thud.
As he turned his body, a large built man entered the inn.
He wore a worn Taoist robe,
and through his disheveled hair, hollow eyes were visible, and he had a bulbous nose.
‘An Inbiyin.’
Bu Eunseol could sense it instinctively.
That this man was an Inbiyin like Yeon Wol. That he was the one nurturing the Evil Spirits.
“What is it?”
Having stayed together for half a month,
Song Ak could read Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts just by looking at his face.
“I seem to have found the leader of the Evil Spirits.”
At Bu Eunseol’s silent transmission, Song Ak’s eyes grew sharp.
Song Ak’s eyes sharpened at Bu Eunseol’s innuendo.
「Are you referring to that Taoist Priest?」
「Yes.」
The Taoist Priest happened to be passing by Bu Eunseol and Song Ak at that very moment.
However, since the two were conversing through sound transmission and keeping their heads lowered, the Taoist Priest seemed to notice nothing unusual.
After glancing at the two, the Taoist Priest entered the private chamber of the Inn.
“Now I can see the end in sight.”
Song Ak’s eyes burned crimson, and his hands trembled slightly.
Bu Eunseol sensed something odd about this.
Yet immediately after, realizing they could finally eliminate the mastermind behind this atrocity,
she nodded, believing he was simply overjoyed.
Indeed, they would finally be able to uproot the source of this cruel deed.
When the moon rose brilliantly into the sky,
the Taoist Priest, who had eaten and drunk heartily in the Inn’s private chamber, emerged and boarded a carriage.
Bu Eunseol and Song Ak, who had been waiting outside, deployed their movement techniques and secretly followed the carriage.
The Nang In Jeon Dan, led by Do Cheon Rin,
had departed to confront a massive contingent of Evil Spirits discovered near Seorim.
Yet they could not summon the forces of the Demon Hall.
If Bu Eunseol were to impersonate the Righteous Sect Alliance again, she would lose the support of the Demonic Path practitioners.
Whoa.
The carriage came to a halt far beneath the deep mountain foot at the outskirts of a village, well beyond Seong Do.
Click.
The Taoist Priest descended from the carriage and without hesitation deployed his movement technique to ascend the mountain.
After venturing deep into the mountains for some time, he finally stopped at none other than a Communal Cemetery where countless burial mounds rose prominently.
“Huff.”
As the Taoist Priest exerted his power, the cemetery trembled and a blue aura began to rise.
He was absorbing the ghostly energy flowing through the cemetery, much like the Zangsang Gate.
“It grows fewer with each passing moment.”
The Taoist Priest tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Eighty of them have not returned.”
Bu Eunseol and Song Ak, who were hidden and listening, felt their eyes flash with recognition.
The number matched exactly with the Evil Spirits they had dealt with thus far.
“They are not fully matured, but it cannot be helped.”
The Taoist Priest slowly lowered the bamboo box he carried on his back and adjusted it carefully.
Instantly, a table and ritual implements that Taoist Priests could use when deploying their techniques materialized.
“I must handle this swiftly.”
Thud.
The Taoist Priest bit his tongue to draw blood and drew a talisman directly on the yellow paper, which began to absorb the moonlight.
At the same time, the entire cemetery began to tremble with a gentle resonance.
Whoosh.
Not long after, Masked Assassins suddenly burst forth from the ground surrounding the cemetery.
These were the Evil Spirits that had been injecting delusion into the common people all this time.
“Why have you awakened us so soon?”
The Evil Spirit standing at the front spoke in a polite yet bewildered voice.
“We have not yet absorbed the corpse qi satisfactorily.”
They were not dead corpses.
Like the sorcerers of the Goru Cult,
they had buried their bodies in the cemetery and were absorbing the corpse qi and corpse poison emanating from the cadavers.
Which meant
that the secret behind transforming the common people into Killing Ghosts, like those of the Evil Sects, seemed to involve grafting corpse poison and corpse qi into sorcery.
“It cannot be helped.”
The Taoist Priest spoke with gleaming eyes.
“The Muhon Society is leading vagrants to track you down. Now that it has come to this, we have no choice but to create Killing Ghosts all at once and end the trial.”
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Even as they spoke, the Evil Spirits buried in the cemetery began bursting forth from the ground one after another.
The number of Evil Spirits rising from their bodies in this vast cemetery was approximately five hundred.
Though they had not absorbed the corpse qi satisfactorily,
they were emanating an aura of a completely different dimension from the Evil Spirits that had appeared thus far.
‘This is troublesome.’
Bu Eunseol, watching from her hiding place, widened her eyes.
Having faced Evil Spirits before,
she knew well how bizarre their methods were and how formidable their power truly was.
But five hundred Evil Spirits?
In terms of Murim martial artists, it was equivalent to five thousand well-trained troops.
“So those bastards were the culprits after all.”
As Bu Eunseol muttered softly,
“Hehehehe.”
Song Ak let out a sinister laugh and nodded his head.
“Now I can see the end.”
Then he drew the Songmun Blade from his waist and licked the blade with his tongue.
He was not a Taoist Priest of the Wudang Sect,
but rather a brutal human butcher who carved human flesh like meat.

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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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