Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Trivial
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Trivial.
To the students of the Heavenly Academy who prided themselves as the cream of the righteous factions' martial world, the Green Forest Demon Emperor's assessment rang cold and arrogant.
It sounded all the more arrogant because he had only recently joined the ranks of the Ten Heroes, and his background was the rootless Green Forest.
Green Forest.
Bandits, in the end.
Out of the countless bandits rampaging across the Central Plains' mountains, the term Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds specifically referred to the eighteen largest and most savage stronghold bands.
Five years ago, the Green Forest Demon Emperor had suddenly appeared, wiped out the Blood Banner Stronghold—one of the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds—and formed the Mountain King Stronghold with a hundred-odd bandits who followed him.
In less than half a year after that, the Green Forest Demon Emperor and the Mountain King Stronghold had unified all of Green Forest.
Despite this feat, the righteous martial world did not regard the Green Forest Demon Emperor highly.
They dismissed him as merely a bandit chief, nothing more.
But.
What about now, seeing him in person?
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's "trivial" assessment still sounded cold and arrogant.
Yet not a single one of the prideful Heavenly Academy prodigies stepped forward to openly refute it.
Because the supreme evil faction master, Black Demon King Baek Ri Mu Won, stood before them?
No.
It was the intense pressure emanating from the Green Forest Demon Emperor's words that crushed them.
The Black Demon King exuded no aura at all, but the Green Forest Demon Emperor openly radiated a ferocious intimidation.
'That's the Green Forest Demon Emperor...'
'The youngest of the Ten Heroes.'
Excluding the Green Forest Demon Emperor, the other Ten Heroes had made their names in the martial world fifty years ago.
They had been called the Ten Heroes since then. But the Green Forest Demon Emperor had only begun to make waves five years prior.
No one knew Sama Jin the Green Forest Demon Emperor's exact age, but most believed he was under fifty.
And that wasn't mere groundless rumor.
When the Green Forest Demon Emperor unified Green Forest and claimed the title for himself, numerous information networks in the martial world—like the Beggars' Sect and Hao Clan—dug into not the title, but the man called Sama Jin.
What they uncovered was that Sama Jin was the sole survivor of the Sama Clan, massacred in a Blood Banner Stronghold raid thirty years ago.
The Sama Clan had been a minor martial house found anywhere in the martial world, but its patriarch's arrogance far exceeded his skill.
That hubris clashed with the notoriously savage and merciless Blood Banner Stronghold among the Green Forest Eighteen, and they proved their brutality by crushing the entire Sama Clan.
The lone survivor of that exterminated clan.
At the time, the Sama Clan had a boy in his mid-to-late teens as the young heir.
If the Green Forest Demon Emperor truly was that survivor, it made sense that he targeted the Blood Banner Stronghold among the eighteen, slaughtered every last bandit without mercy, and skewered their heads on spikes for display.
'His skills don't match the Ten Heroes; they just nominated him symbolically.'
The Green Forest Demon Emperor had become one of the Ten Heroes on the Black Demon King's recommendation.
Thus, most righteous martial artists believed his true power couldn't compare to the others.
But seeing him now dispelled such notions entirely.
Especially for the students who had crossed paths with other Ten Heroes—they had no choice but to acknowledge that the Green Forest Demon Emperor's prowess was more than worthy of the title.
"Not all of them are trivial, are they?"
The Black Demon King chuckled as he spoke.
"That's true."
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's eyes snapped around.
He first looked at Heavenly Person Mu Yeon Jun, then at Tae Hee Myeong, Dang Seona, Dang Heeran, and Bang Jun.
"But Black Demon King, unlike you, I can't accurately gauge their skills just by looking."
"That's unavoidable. High martial arts don't necessarily sharpen one's eye."
"Still, I can tell there are a few decent ones."
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's gaze passed over Paeng Yeon Hwa and settled on Wi Seong Cheon.
After staring at Wi Seong Cheon for a moment, the Green Forest Demon Emperor bared his white teeth in a grin.
He strode forward and reached out toward Wi Seong Cheon.
"You're the Hidden Dragon, right?"
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's hand gripped Wi Seong Cheon's shoulder.
Wi Seong Cheon didn't pull away, allowing himself to be held steady.
Squeeze.
The grip on his shoulder wasn't particularly strong, but a colossal force wholly different wrapped around Wi Seong Cheon's entire body.
Even as it constricted him, Wi Seong Cheon offered no resistance.
The Green Forest Demon Emperor scanned Wi Seong Cheon's unflinching form and let out a low chuckle.
He released the shoulder and spun around.
"Not bad."
Thud!
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's body launched upward, vanishing over the railing of the anchored ship.
"Come on now, don't be so scared. Board the ship first."
The Black Demon King spoke soothingly to the frozen students.
* * *
The voyage began.
The students were still tense.
For most, riding such a massive ship across the sea was a first, but the presence of the Black Demon King and Green Forest Demon Emperor aboard made them even more on edge.
"Do you all know about the Black Forest?"
Gathering the students on deck, the Black Demon King abruptly asked.
He sat atop the ship's prow with its fierce figurehead, resuming the apple he'd been eating earlier.
"You must know the basics."
No one answered, but the Black Demon King nodded with a laugh.
"Barring any incidents, we'll arrive at the Black Forest in four days. You'll start there as One Star Disciples."
A rough-looking sailor set down a large wooden crate.
At the Black Demon King's casual wave, palm-sized iron medallions floated from the box and flew to each student.
"Be careful not to lose your Star Medallions."
Each medallion bore a name.
Wi Seong Cheon was surprised the Black Demon King knew all the exchange students' names.
"One Star Disciples in the Black Forest face many restrictions. Unlike at the Heavenly Academy, you'll endure harsh conditions. But don't worry—your lives are safe."
"What does that mean?"
Mu Yeon Jun raised his head and asked.
"I've already informed the Black Forest Disciples: absolutely no killing Heavenly Academy students. It's a simple order, so they'll understand."
"You're saying you're protecting us?"
"It might bruise your pride, but what can be done? If a Heavenly Academy student dies in the Black Forest, it becomes a headache."
"What if we kill Black Forest Disciples?"
"That doesn't matter. In fact, I'd prefer if you did whenever possible. It'll keep the Disciples on their toes."
At the Black Demon King's grinning response, Tae Hee Myeong's eyes turned icy.
He wasn't the only one reacting that way.
The students knew the rumors about the Black Forest.
To them, raised in a completely different world and environment, its ways of education were utterly incomprehensible.
"While in the Black Forest, you'll follow its laws. Want to become a higher Star Disciple? Hunt others and steal their stars. Then you'll enjoy all the privileges higher Stars do. Isn't that great? Unlike them, you won't face real mortal danger."
Only then did the students begin murmuring.
The quick-witted ones sensed this could be a huge opportunity.
The Black Forest wasn't egalitarian.
Higher Stars meant greater privileges.
"Shall I boost your motivation?"
The Black Demon King scratched his chin.
"A week after you arrive, this seat plans to scatter various items at the Black Forest's core. First... three roots of Millennium Snow Ginseng."
The students gasped.
"Azure Spirit Oil, Supreme Blood Fox, Doll's Lower Leg, Golden Spirit Pill."
Each was an elixir that could drive martial artists mad.
"Not just elixirs—martial arts and weapons too. I gave my most valuable weapon, Crimson Lin, to Sword Peak, but the Black Death Alliance's treasury has plenty of good stuff, if not quite that level. Same for techniques. I wondered if you'd even want 'lowly evil faction' arts, so I pondered long and hard."
The Black Demon King chuckled slyly, glancing at Tae Hee Myeong.
"Wudang's Ten Brocade Sash."
"Gasp...!"
Tae Hee Myeong's face twisted in shock.
Pushing past the others, he strode forward and glared at the Black Demon King with wide eyes.
"How do you have the Ten Brocade Sash...?!"
"Why the surprise? Common for prestigious sects, no? Oral transmission arts."
"It's been lost for two hundred years...!"
"Because the heir two centuries ago died without disciples. Imagine all you want why it's in the Black Death Alliance's treasury. Just know this."
The Black Demon King rose from the prow.
"This seat doesn't lie. And it's not just the Ten Brocade Sash. Mount Hua's Infinite Linked Flower Sword, Zhongnan's Soul Mist Flowing Cloud Sword. Various others too."
Wi Seong Cheon turned at the chilling sword intent prickling his back.
Woo Ha Yeon glared at the Black Demon King with an uncharacteristically humorless face.
Like the Ten Brocade Sash, the Infinite Linked Flower Sword had been lost at Mount Hua centuries ago.
"Whether you learn them or return them to their sects—that's your choice. If you can get them, that is."
"Our sects' secret arts...!"
"Grateful we preserved lost arts from centuries ago, or call this seat a thief? Those techniques were in the Black Death Alliance before I was born. Without me, they'd have no chance of returning at all."
The Black Demon King clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"So, feeling motivated now? But let's be realistic. This seat plans to scatter them in the Black Forest core, accessible only to Five Star Disciples and above. Even as the righteous factions' top prodigies, reaching Five Star in a week is impossible."
"Then what?"
"Form alliances with higher Star Disciples."
The Black Demon King burst into laughter.
"Fits the exchange purpose perfectly, doesn't it? Ally with whomever you like. But note this: you can only ally with one Disciple. Want to switch? Get permission from your current ally first. Or kill them if you don't want to ask."
Only one ally allowed.
Exactly as Zhuge I Hyeon and Ha Ji Eun had guessed.
The Black Demon King was that sort of man.
"Upon arrival, higher Stars will come to greet you. Ally there, or stay One Star. Your choice."
"Will the Black Heaven Young Master come too?"
Jin Woo, rolling his prayer beads, asked in a low voice.
The Black Demon King chuckled and nodded.
"Probably."
'He's still alive?'
The Black Heaven Young Master must have entered the Black Forest months ago.
With the entire Black Flag crew and higher Stars targeting him, he was still surviving.
"...I understand the Black Forest law: victors take the loser's possessions."
"I get what you're asking. If any of you kill the Black Heaven Young Master, I'll pass on my Divine Demon Extermination Law."
"You'll take us as disciples?"
"Teaching the art is fine. You have your own positions. But... doubtful it'll happen. Embarrassing to say it myself."
The Black Demon King scanned the students' faces.
"Doubt any of you could defeat this seat's disciple."
Talk of Black Forest laws continued.
The Black Demon King's name protected the students' lives.
But only lives—disabilities from injuries were their own burden.
On the first day, no stealing stars from other Disciples.
This applied to Black Forest Disciples too.
To prevent reckless chaos.
Many higher Stars would gather at the coast that first day.
Allowing star theft would spark immediate clashes among rivals.
'A shame.'
Alliances weren't mandatory.
Thus, arrival day was ideal for farming stars—pick winnable targets from the crowd and climb to higher Star instantly.
But with theft banned that day, rapid star-gathering was impossible.
'Why did the Green Forest Demon Emperor come?'
He wasn't alone. About thirty Mountain King Stronghold elites were aboard with him.
They didn't hide, carousing loudly amid the deck with booze and laughter.
Ignoring the noise, Wi Seong Cheon turned.
Paeng Yeon Hwa leaned precariously over the railing, mesmerized by the rushing waves.
"Want to go swimming?"
"...No."
Paeng Yeon Hwa flinched, shaking her head vigorously.
Though her refusal was firm, she couldn't tear her eyes from the sea.
Whenever spray rose or a fish leaped, she'd wave her hands excitedly, entranced.
Then, realizing it late, she'd jolt back, shaking her head wildly.
Like a cat batting at catnip, the sight brought an unwitting smile to Wi Seong Cheon's face.
Thus passed four peaceful days at sea, until the night-shaded waters brightened with morning sun.
The students on deck beheld a massive island.