The Heavenly Demon of the Blue Sky - Chapter 14

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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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Azure Heaven’s Heavenly Demon Episode 014
At that very moment, in a weathered temple.
Hyegwang, the head abbot of this Shaolin branch temple in Hangzhou, was a formidable man who wore thick Prayer Beads around his neck and displayed bronzed, muscular arms with evident pride.
Across from him sat Jang Ho, the branch leader of the Beggar Sect, whose square face resembled an ox and whose limbs were exceptionally thick and powerful.
To any outsider, it appeared an odd pairing—a monk and a beggar sharing a table of wine.
Yet in truth, they were both young leaders of their respective branches, and had been intimate friends since childhood.
“Ah, smooth stuff. No wonder it tastes so good—begged by a famous beggar, after all.”
Hyegwang drained his large cup with a hearty laugh.
“What does a bald-headed fool like you know about wine that you carry on so?”
Jang Ho let out a snort. Just the same casual banter as always.
They were emptying their cups with these idle jabs when a martial monk guarding the main gate came rushing over, his saffron robes billowing behind him.
“A stranger has arrived. He says he has urgent business concerning the Namgung clan.”
“What? The Namgung?”
Hyegwang and Jang Ho raised their eyebrows in surprise.
“Didn’t the Namgung perish long ago and fade into the forgotten pages of history?”
“Strange indeed. Show him in. We must see what this is about.”
The man who then appeared was a middle-aged fellow who resembled a toad.
He introduced himself as a survivor of the Namgung clan and uncle of the current clan head, then spoke with urgent haste, barely pausing for breath.
“Please, I beg you—help us. The remnant forces of the Blood Cult still lurk in Jiangnan, kidnapping survivors of our clan……!”
“What are you saying? We have strengthened our patrols. How could the Blood Cult move so freely?”
Hyegwang raised his voice in disbelief.
Jang Ho too fixed the uncle with a piercing gaze.
“Can you swear to what you say? These are tense times for us all. And the Blood Cult—it’s not something to speak of lightly.”
“How could I, a member of the Namgung, not know this……? The clan head himself confirmed traces of Demonic Arts. He also said that wealthy merchants in Hangzhou may be backing them, and that I should seek help from the great heroes.”
“Wealthy merchants? Wait—the previous Namgung clan head fell in the war against the Blood Cult. Who sits as clan head now?”
“The youngest son of the late clan head, my lord.”
At the uncle’s words, the two men exchanged glances and widened their eyes.
As a wandering beggar and a monk who traveled the realm, both were well-informed about all manner of news.
The youngest son the uncle spoke of sprang to mind immediately.
“Surely you don’t mean that prince—the one said to be born with a weak constitution, who has been bedridden all his life?”
“That is correct……. The clan head has now gone alone to a Pleasure House to strike at those wealthy merchants…….”
“This is madness!”
At the uncle’s words, Hyegwang jumped to his feet, startled.
“By your own account, these merchants are enemies conspiring with the Blood Cult, yet he charges in so recklessly!”
Jang Ho was equally astonished.
“However much you invoke the clan head’s orders, to drive a sickly, young nephew into such danger! Have you no shame?”
At their reproach, the uncle let out a heavy sigh.
‘That clan head is so fierce, always on my case…….’
He wanted to mention how the clan head had bound him to a tree and beaten him, but swallowed the confession as it would have been spitting upon his own face. Instead, he hung his head weakly.
“That is precisely why I have come seeking you both, bowing and pleading……. I have heard that Shaolin and the Beggar Sect are truly committed to peace in the Jianghu. Please, I beg you. If not for you, there is nowhere left to turn…….”
At his pitiful plea, both Hyegwang and Jang Ho sighed in difficulty.
For two men of such strong justice, the sacrifices of the Namgung—who had stood foremost against the Blood Cult—remained unmatched in their hearts.
They huddled together and conferred in hushed tones.
“The Namgung deserve to be called a house of heroes. Yet if even the single heir who has survived falls to a dog’s death…….”
“It would be a further stain upon the face of the Orthodox Faction, which values Righteousness and Chivalry.”
“Perhaps we should act. The clan head has thrown himself into danger recklessly—saving him must come first.”
“I am of the same mind. Let us move swiftly, before matters worsen.”
The two men nodded to each other and summoned the martial monks of Hangzhou and the beggars under their command.
After making ready to depart, they turned to the uncle and spoke in a low voice as a warning.
“We act gladly to repay the grace the Namgung have shown to the Jianghu. But hear this well: if it should prove that you have sought to exploit the strength of Shaolin and the Beggar Sect for private matters unrelated to the Blood Cult, you shall face grave consequences for your deception!”

Half a watch later. The main gate of the Pleasure House.
“Stand back. The gentlemen upstairs have ordered that no one be admitted today—they are holding an important performance. Even Shaolin and the Beggar Sect cannot be allowed through.”
Hired swordsmen employed by the wealthy merchants blocked Hyegwang and Jang Ho’s path.
“We have received word that there are Blood Cult agents hiding here!”
“As members of the Martial Alliance, we have every right to investigate. Step aside!”
The two men unleashed their voices like thunder, raising the momentum of their presence.
With neither side yielding an inch, a tense standoff unfolded—at any moment, swords seemed poised to clash.

The tension outside the Pleasure House had reached a fever pitch when it happened.
Bang! The firmly shut door of the Pleasure House was wrenched open with brutal force.
In the same instant, the lackeys of the wealthy merchants inside came pouring out like a wave, their faces drained of all color.
“What—?”
All eyes snapped toward the entrance at the sudden commotion.
There stood a pale boy, shadows pooling beneath his eyes, wearing a thin smile.
In his hand dripped a True Blade, blood falling steadily from its edge.
The blade was pressed tight against the nape of Hwang, the eldest of the Three Tigers of Jiangnan.
“Move! Do you want to watch me die? Open the way! Open it, I’m telling you!”
Hwang’s voice cracked with cold sweat, squealing like a pig at the slaughter.
“The—the master has been taken hostage!”
The bewildered bodyguards gasped in horror and scattered left and right, opening a path.
The boy walked leisurely through the corridor his enemies had created.
Then, catching sight of the Shaolin monks and Beggar Sect vagrants who had come to help, a long, desolate smile curled across his lips.
“Funny thing, isn’t it? No one in this world takes life seriously quite like monks and beggars.”

* * *
To my former self, Shaolin and the Beggar Sect were nothing but tiresome obstacles.
How many times had I rolled my eyes at their rigidity—those who couldn’t find flexibility even if they searched with their eyes wide open?
But now, their unwavering sense of justice proved unexpectedly useful. They came to rescue me, exactly as I’d foreseen.
I withdrew a tattered Secret Letter and an Account Ledger, both stained with blood, from my robe and handed them over.
“These came from those merchant scum. It’s a record of their transactions with the Blood Cult.”
The faces of the two men twisted as they scanned through the contents.
They’d clearly never imagined such things were happening in their own territory.
“Any other questions—ask him.”
I hurled the captured Hwang at the feet of both men.
Hwang immediately clutched at their trouser legs, begging for his life.
“We provided supplies to the Blood Cult’s Remnant Forces and helped them kidnap members of Namgung’s bloodline. They’re all gathered in the Chilheuk Forest outside Hangzhou. I’ve told you everything—please, spare my life!”
A clear confession: the celebrated merchants of Hangzhou had been feeding the Blood Cult’s Remnant Forces and had sold innocent Namgung blood as sacrifices.
“An atrocity that Heaven and man alike condemn!”
“To think such villainy was happening in the heart of Hangzhou!”
“We shall turn you over to the Martial Alliance for a thorough investigation. Prepare yourself!”
The two men, seething with righteous fury, brought ropes and bound Hwang tightly.
Then they turned their voices on the merchant scum’s soldiers gathered around the inn.
“Your master’s collusion with the Blood Cult has been revealed! Should you resist knowing this, you will be regarded as enemies of the Orthodox Faction—of Shaolin and the Beggar Sect alike. If you value your lives, cast down your weapons!”
Clang! Crash!
Before the words had finished falling, the enemies scattered in panic, hurling their weapons to the ground.
What good was bravado when your master was captured and your cause lost?
‘Still, they had the sense to back down.’
I summoned Dang-Suk, who’d been hiding in a corner during the chaos, and leaned in close, speaking softly near his ear.
“Once the Martial Alliance receives the report, a seizure and search will begin. The merchant’s estates will be torn apart—it’s only a matter of time.”
“I think so too, sir…”
“I need you to stay here. There’s work to be done.”
“Me, sir?”
“Those merchant dogs colluded with the Blood Cult and sold off Namgung’s blood as merchandise. Document everything—every ounce of spiritual and material damage Namgung suffered, every filthy won those bastards pocketed. Calculate it down to the last grain of dust.”
Several moves ahead, Dang-Suk’s eyes widened with understanding.
“When the Martial Alliance arrives, present that accounting and formally demand restitution.”
“Ah, I see!”
“Don’t worry about the son. I’ve already learned exactly where the enemy’s main camp is and where the captives are being held.”
What would have left me wandering lost if I’d been alone, I—as the family head—accomplished swiftly and cleanly.
This feat seemed to send ripples through something deep within him. I felt the way Dang-Suk looked at me shift.
Beyond contempt and fear, there now lived a seed of reverence.
“You risked your life for us directly—how could I possibly shirk my duty!”
He clenched his fist tightly, then turned and hurried away.
Alone now, I approached the two men leading the monks and beggars.
“Forgive the late introduction. I am Namgung Hyeok, the new family head of Namgung.”
Old habits from my Heavenly Demon days slipped out naturally—I’d spoken to them casually, without formal speech.
It might have seemed rude, but what of it? By Jianghu’s reckoning, I was their senior by an immeasurable distance.
The moment casual speech left my lips, the two men startled, then clasped their hands in respect.
“We meet the family head of Namgung. I am Hyegwang, a monk of Shaolin’s branch temple.”
“I am Jang Ho, Branch Master of the Beggar Sect. I heard the Namgung household faced danger and came in haste.”
He narrowed his eyes and studied the two men’s appearance carefully.
What caught his attention first was the distinct mark stamped on Hyegwang’s bare head.
‘Six Cultivation Marks—he’s ascended to senior monk rank. A promising talent indeed.’
But that wasn’t all.
Typical Shaolin warrior-monks wielded long staffs or trained in the Fist and Technique Art.
Those who carried heavy Prayer Beads as weapons around their necks—from what I knew, only those within Shaolin who had mastered certain specialized Martial Arts did so.
‘Arhat Hall lineage, then. Training in the 108-Bead Prayer Art.’
Memories surfaced of the hardships he’d endured at the hands of Arhat Hall monks during his Heavenly Demon days.
Yesterday’s enemy, troublesome to handle, had become today’s ally.
His gaze then turned toward Jang Ho, the Beggar Sect’s vagrant.
Five knots hung from the hem of his worn Long Robe.
‘Among the Beggar Sect’s nine knots in total, the Five Knots are granted only to those with the caliber to become the future leader. This one surpasses an ordinary Branch Master as well.’
It made sense—Hangzhou, being a crossroads where wealth and talent converged, would breed such capable figures.
Had they been mediocre, he would have ignored them and left. But warriors of this caliber changed the equation.
‘For now, I cannot sweep away the Blood Cult’s Remnant Forces alone.’
Yet he had no intention of groveling for aid. The balance of power would tip based on who seized the initiative first.
“I have one question for you both. When Namgung blocked the Blood Cult and was reduced to ash, what were Shaolin, the Beggar Sect, and the Martial Alliance doing?”
The sudden question made both men’s faces darken.
“We did our utmost, but…….”
“Ahem, the Blood Cult’s surprise attack was so cunning…….”
“Cunning? Namgung’s sentries reported strange signs months in advance and asked for help. Under the guise of alliance, you inflated your numbers, then when the flames arrived, you stood by watching each other suspiciously. Is that not so?”
At the sharp words, Jang Ho scratched his head in distress, offering excuses.
“The Martial Alliance entangles so many sects and families that delays in response through the reporting system are, in truth, unavoidable. We also feel genuine regret…….”
“Regret? Then what’s the point of alliance? What value does Righteousness and Chivalry have if it can’t protect its own?”
These were people who held Righteousness and Chivalry as dearly as life itself. He had made Namgung’s destruction an unpayable debt upon their consciences. And—
“In an abandoned temple in the Chilheuk Forest beyond Hangzhou. That’s where the Blood Cult’s Remnant Forces are. The Namgung bloodline is also trapped alive in the underground chambers there.”
He pressed upon their current predicament once more.
“My family are on the brink of becoming sacrifices to the Blood Cult. What will you do? Abandon Namgung again this time?”
At his words, both men bit their lips in deep distress.
“As I said, there are protocols and procedures. First we must send word to the Martial Alliance and await approval. It’s not something we can decide alone……. But we’ll investigate as quickly as possible. Please wait.”
“Wait? While Namgung’s people are devoured alive? You know better than most how vicious the Blood Cult is?”
He’d expected this. Frustrating Orthodox Faction types. When circumstances were urgent, couldn’t they be more flexible?
“So you’ll neglect this too? Drag out time again with talk of reporting systems, and only sigh ‘regret’ after Namgung’s line is extinct? And can you guarantee the next victims won’t be the Beggar Sect or Shaolin?”
He let his sharp aura show, voicing his grievance.
At that, Hyegwang and Jang Ho clutched their chests as if pricked by conscience.
“If you truly cannot help, then I’ll go alone and stake my life on this fight. As household lord, I cannot simply watch my family perish.”
Hadn’t he already proven he would attempt what others deemed reckless? These two could not be ignorant of his nature.
“If I, the last legitimate heir and household lord of Namgung, die in this matter, then the Beggar Sect and Shaolin will wear that stigma for life. What good are your precious protocols when Namgung’s crisis is ignored yet again?”
And this disaster had unfolded in their own territories. They could not escape the pangs of conscience.
“Then farewell.”
He turned on his heel and walked away as if there was nothing left to see.
The two men could no longer hold back and sprang from their seats.
“W-wait! We were shortsighted!”
“Please don’t say we caused Namgung’s ruin!”
They spread their arms wide and blocked his path.
“So you’ll help, then?”
He lifted his eyelids and asked again. They had no choice but to nod.
“Yes……. Hangzhou’s monks and beggars will aid the Namgung household lord.”
“Good. Leave only minimal numbers to guard the prisoners. The rest prepare for battle.”
As if nothing had happened, he smiled brightly and shook blood from his blade.
At that sight, Hyegwang and Jang Ho’s cheeks went hollow.
What kind of brazen, cunning youngster was this?
That youngster was the new household lord of Namgung.
“Ah, what turbulent times.”
Pressing his brow, he felt a moment of vertigo, then immediately summoned his subordinates.
“The situation is urgent as the Namgung household lord says—we shall act first and report later.”
“We will take responsibility. Follow orders and eliminate the Blood Cult’s Remnant Forces.”
Thereafter, several dozen elite warriors fell into formation behind him.
‘So the old saying goes: what fortune brings, misfortune may follow, or vice versa.’
In my past life, I was the Heavenly Demon—what makes you think I can’t have both Shaolin and the Beggar Sect under my heel?
He pulled one corner of his mouth into a sharp grin, then mounted the black horse.
Next, he drew the sword at his waist high into the air, brandishing it for all to see, and bellowed.
“Let’s go. It’s time to crush these vermin!”

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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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