Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: The True Face of the Black Heaven Young Master
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It was right in front of him, yet he couldn't quite comprehend it. The Black Heaven Young Master. Disciple of the Black Demon King. The Red-Eyed Ghost Killer who roamed the Qinghai region with masked strangers, hunting demonic beasts.
Four years ago, the older brother who had suddenly left the Heavenly Flower Sect when Wi Seong-cheon was seventeen. The one not related by a single drop of blood, brought home by his father when Wi Seong-cheon was ten.
That brother was standing right there in front of him.
But questions overshadowed understanding. Why was his brother here, of all places? Why had he become the Black Heaven Young Master? The change in facial structure was the Reverse Body Transformation Technique.
Wi Seong-cheon hadn't learned the art himself, but he remembered the lessons from the Heavenly Academy.
Like all martial arts, the Reverse Body Transformation Technique was especially difficult to master. Miss the timing, and it could never be learned. Before the bones hardened, before the body finished growing.
Once past childhood, it was impossible. After age ten, no amount of effort could yield complete mastery.
At best, minor alterations to facial features. Even that was grueling, so people typically used human-skin masks for disguises instead.
Wi Seong-yeol's Reverse Body Transformation Technique was not incomplete. It went beyond slight tweaks, twisting his features into an entirely different face. Which meant...
'Before coming to the Heavenly Flower Sect.'
Wi Seong-yeol had first become Sect Leader Wi Ju-seok's adopted son at age twelve. Neither during his time in the sect nor after leaving could he have learned it.
Impossible.
"...What is this?"
How was he supposed to accept it?
Wi Seong-cheon couldn't simply rejoice at this reunion. He had never imagined meeting his brother like this, here of all places.
"Brother, what the hell is going on?"
His voice came out cold as ice, his questions sharp as blades. Wi Seong-cheon clenched his trembling fists.
"That form just now—what was that? And who's standing in front of me right now?"
"What you see is what you get."
Wi Seong-yeol answered. Emotion flickered in his eyes for just a moment as he looked at Wi Seong-cheon. Then it vanished, replaced by a dull, impassive stare.
"Disciple of the Black Death Alliance Leader. Black Heaven Young Master."
"And Wi Seong-yeol?"
"A name I used until four years ago."
"So what's your name now?"
"I don't have one."
The Black Heaven Young Master shook his head.
"I figured a title was enough, so I dropped the name. You're free to call me Wi Seong-yeol and think of me as your brother... but I can't see you as my little brother anymore, or play the role of your big brother."
His tone was utterly dry. Wi Seong-cheon forcibly suppressed the emotions boiling in his chest.
"You have no intention of explaining this so I can make sense of it?"
"If I explain, will you understand?"
"Better than you standing there silent."
"I wouldn't know where to start. It's not a short story."
"It's been four years since you last saw your little brother. You don't want to waste time chatting?"
Even sharp words elicited no reaction from the Black Heaven Young Master. He merely shrugged lightly and shook his head.
"I told you. I can't see you as my little brother anymore, or be your big brother."
"Then what am I to you?"
"A guest from the Heavenly Academy for exchanges with the Black Forest. The Heavenly Flower Sect's Hidden Dragon."
"And you're the Black Heaven Young Master?"
"What's the point of saying it?"
"Please, Brother. Cut the bullshit."
"My ties to the Heavenly Flower Sect ended four years ago."
The Black Heaven Young Master's voice lowered.
"I settled that with the sect leader back then. You know the basics, at least."
Crunch.
Wi Seong-cheon bit his lower lip and glared at the Black Heaven Young Master. He was right. Wi Seong-cheon had heard bits and pieces from his father, Sect Leader Wi Ju-seok, about his vanished brother.
The Heavenly Net Prohibition.
His father had said stories about his brother were bound by that prohibition.
"...Did you receive the Heavenly Net Prohibition too, Brother?"
"Not exactly the same, but something similar."
The Black Heaven Young Master muttered, pointing to his ear. The scar below it—vivid when they first met as children—remained even after more than ten years.
"But that's not why I'm holding back. I just don't want to talk about it, and see no need to."
"What kind of bullshit..."
"That's all I have to say. If you want more, make me answer."
"You gonna talk if I hold a blade to your throat?"
The Black Heaven Young Master smiled faintly.
"I'd answer anything if you did."
"Right now?"
"No fighting today. My master, the Black Demon King, forbade it."
"...The alliance?"
"I'm not joining hands with you. You'd come after me openly anyway."
"...Leaving that aside. You don't even want to team up with your little brother?"
"You're free to feel brotherly love toward me, but don't force it on me now. Objectively, the 'Hidden Dragon' isn't my best card in this situation."
The Black Heaven Young Master's gaze shifted from Wi Seong-cheon. Wi Seong-cheon followed it. He was looking at Oh Ha-yeon and Mu Yeon-jun.
"I see."
Wi Seong-cheon's eyebrow twitched. Swallowing his explosive anger, he spun on his heel. He had plenty more he wanted to ask, but he wouldn't get answers from the Black Heaven Young Master right now.
'We met.'
Could that be any consolation? Wi Seong-cheon clenched his fist until it hurt.
'Black Demon King.'
He doubted the Black Demon King was unaware of the Black Heaven Young Master's identity. Tricked? He hadn't even asked about his brother. Not quite tricked, but it soured his mood all the same.
Wi Seong-cheon thought of the iron plaque in his pocket. Showing it would get him an audience with the Black Demon King.
But getting answers was another matter entirely.
The other students kept their distance from Wi Seong-cheon, his expression icy cold. He tried to relax his face, but it wouldn't obey.
"I'm fine."
Paeng Yeon-hwa and Dang Hee-ran hesitated before approaching. Wi Seong-cheon spoke first, before they could.
"You never know what life's gonna throw at you."
Bang Jun let out a deep sigh at Wi Seong-cheon's mutter. Even Hwangbo Seong-u looked troubled, glancing at him cautiously.
"Shit like this happens."
For some reason, Namgoong Jiu's eyes were misty with tears. Oh Hee-ran looked lost, scanning the mood, while Yuk Jin-il hardened his face and glared at the Black Heaven Young Master.
"Sometimes things just piss you off and leave you frustrated."
Dang Seona stared oddly at the Black Heaven Young Master, Jin-u rolled his prayer beads and shook his head. Tae Hee-myeong tried to approach Wi Seong-cheon, but Yeong-jin held him back with a shake of his head.
"Why are you all just standing around?"
Wi Seong-cheon forced a smile. Shaking off Oh Ha-yeon's worried gaze, he walked slowly. Paeng Yeon-hwa reached out hurriedly to grab his sleeve, but he chuckled and dodged her hand.
"I said I'm fine."
"But..."
"Really. I'm good."
Paeng Yeon-hwa chewed her lower lip.
"Where are you headed?"
Mu Yeon-jun, who had been standing at a distance, was suddenly nearby.
"Somewhere to be alone."
Wi Seong-cheon answered as he passed him.
"So, don't worry about me. Everyone do what you need to."
With that to the students fretting over him, Wi Seong-cheon just wandered off. No destination in mind. He just wanted to walk. Truth be told, he'd rather hole up somewhere. Or beat the crap out of someone, smash something, scream his lungs out.
Wouldn't it be nice if someone picked a fight? Plenty of eyes watched him, but no one approached.
"Ah."
Wi Seong-cheon glared at the churning sea.
"Goddamn it."
Irritation and rage with nowhere to go crushed his chest.
* * *
Paeng Yeon-hwa didn't follow the departing Wi Seong-cheon. She desperately wanted to, but...
[Meet me inside.]
The intent in his transmitted voice message was clear. Only to her? No, everyone worried about him had received similar words.
'Sometimes he acts like a proper junior.'
Oh Ha-yeon clicked her tongue, thinking that. She glanced at the Black Heaven Young Master, standing impassively. He stared openly at her and Mu Yeon-jun.
Oh Ha-yeon glared back with all her might. She had zero interest in allying with him.
'No good.'
Jegal I-hyeon shook his head. He'd originally planned to team up with Wi Seong-cheon. The Hidden Dragon who felled the Little Buddha—proven skill, and meeting him confirmed he exceeded the rumors.
But.
If he knew the Black Heaven Young Master. If they were brothers. Jegal I-hyeon couldn't choose Wi Seong-cheon. The sect leader's adopted son who vanished from the Heavenly Flower Sect four years ago. He knew of him. Never guessed he was the Black Heaven Young Master, though.
'Can't ally with the Hidden Dragon.'
Several factors went into that decision.
Emotions could take over. Jegal I-hyeon didn't see Wi Seong-cheon as someone ruled by feelings. But humans falter to emotion eventually. Wi Seong-cheon hadn't lost control and beaten Jegal Ui-seok back at the Jegal clan, nor rushed the Black Heaven Young Master ignoring the Black Demon King's 'law' just now.
Yet his voice had risen against the Black Heaven Young Master, and now he'd stormed off, emotions unchecked.
That wasn't all. Unlike the Black Heaven Young Master—who left the Heavenly Flower Sect to become the Black Demon King's disciple—Wi Seong-cheon had remained a Heavenly Flower Sect disciple. The Black Heaven Young Master knew both Heavenly Flower Sect arts and the Black Demon King's Divine Demon Extermination Method. Wi Seong-cheon knew only the former.
Meaning they shared the same techniques. Skill varied by aptitude and attainment, but they were still the 'same' arts.
Now that he knew, Jegal I-hyeon felt no need to ally with Wi Seong-cheon.
'You were impressive, but this changes things.'
As Wi Seong-cheon said, life's unpredictable. Better to learn early.
If he'd allied blindly and attacked the Black Heaven Young Master... Jegal I-hyeon smiled wryly and shook his head. Erasing his faint pity for the vanished Wi Seong-cheon, he surveyed the Heavenly Academy students.
'Good thing I made other arrangements.'
Jegal I-hyeon smiled at his pre-arranged contact.
* * *
As the red sunset dyed the sea.
Wi Seong-cheon returned to the harbor. No more urge or need to wander. His agitated emotions had settled.
He dropped suspicions of the Black Demon King deceiving him. Wi Seong-cheon hadn't asked, and the Black Demon King had no reason to volunteer the info.
He understood his father's position too. The Heavenly Net Prohibition. Wi Seong-cheon was exempt, but every Heavenly Flower Sect warrior before him had received it.
'The Heavenly Net Prohibition doesn't just silence talk of the sect. It compels actions.'
His father wanted to tell but couldn't. Stories of his brother. Reasons for leaving. All bound by it.
Accepting that first.
Let him sort his emotions quickly. In the end, this was it: His brother came to the Heavenly Flower Sect with clear purpose from the start. His father couldn't refuse due to the prohibition. Ultimately, his brother...
The Black Heaven Young Master...
Had he left because he no longer needed to learn Heavenly Flower Sect arts? No need to become sect leader?
The Black Heaven Young Master said he bore a prohibition like the Heavenly Net. That scar by his ear. There from the first meeting.
Who?
'The Black Demon King?'
No.
Unlikely. Wi Seong-cheon was certain. The Black Demon King admired unyielding resolve and blind conviction.
Such a man wouldn't use a prohibition suppressing one's will. If he had...
'Contradiction.'
The harbor, once crowded with instructors and students, now stood empty. He'd worried someone might wait, but fortunately, friends and seniors respected his wishes.
"Where'd everyone go?"
Not just students— even instructors were gone.
"...Those of like mind and understanding formed alliances and headed inside."
"And the instructors?"
"Golden Capture Whip Flash Seo Il, I think. He wanted to wait, but the supervisors dragged him off. In the Black Forest, you follow Black Forest rules."
Speaking casually, as if it were obvious.
"Then why are you still here?"
Wi Seong-cheon matched his tone. In response,
"I was hoping, just in case."
Black Hawk.
Baek Ri-hyang chuckled and shook her head.
She stood alone.