Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Mutual Understanding
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“What are your intentions?”
The long silence finally broke after they arrived at the abandoned house in the heart of the dense forest. Stepping over the wreckage of the shattered door revealed a garden overrun with weeds. It wasn’t merely neglected.
Claw marks like those from massive talons scarred the garden everywhere. Some spots were charred black and cratered as if explosives had detonated in the soil.
Beyond that garden.
The Black Heaven Young Master sat on the creaking floorboards, staring at Mu Yeonjun. It was the first thing he’d said since leaving the harbor.
“I’m grateful you accepted my proposal, but it was quite unexpected.”
Byeon Sangirin’s joining hadn’t been surprising. She still followed Mu Yeonjun devotedly. During the grade evaluation, she had felt profound despair from the gaze Mu Yeonjun fixed on her, but that despair hadn’t turned into resentment toward him. If anything, it had made her longing more desperate.
Sangirin had despaired at Mu Yeonjun’s disappointment in her weakness, so she threw herself even harder into martial arts. Now, her devotion had twisted into fanatical obsession.
If Mu Yeonjun joined hands with the Black Heaven Young Master, Sangirin would naturally do the same. The Black Heaven Young Master had no reason to refuse.
But doubts were inevitable. He had naturally wanted to join hands with Mu Yeonjun or Woo Ha-yeon, but he’d assumed they wouldn’t welcome allying with him.
Yet surprisingly, it was Mu Yeonjun—not the Black Heaven Young Master—who had approached first and proposed the alliance.
“It was just a matter of aligned interests.”
Mu Yeonjun replied with a nonchalant expression.
“All the Black Flags are gunning for you, Black Heaven Young Master. I know little about the Black Flags, and even less about you—the disciple of the Black Demon King, called the unrivaled master of the unorthodox sects, who has earned his recognition. I’m in the dark about you.”
“So, you’re joining hands with me to dispel your ignorance?”
“As I just said, every Black Flag is after you. For me, allying with you is far more logical than with any other Black Flag. No need to go hunting them down—they’ll come to me on their own.”
“And I’ll naturally learn about you in the process.”
“If you want to cross hands just to kill time, I’m game anytime.”
“That doesn’t sound bad. I’m just as curious about a Heavenly Person.”
Was that all?
“There are so many who come calling that I gave up clearing them out. It’s turned into a wreck because of it, but make free use of the place. I’ll handle meals at every mealtime, but if you’d rather not, feel free to stay outside.”
“No such plans.”
“If I’d known you’d actually ally with me, I’d have at least tidied up.”
The Black Heaven Young Master chuckled and shook his head.
‘Staying here...’
Mu Yeonjun thought of Wi Seongcheon’s face.
The agitated expression as he glared at the Black Heaven Young Master. That version of Wi Seongcheon felt strangely unfamiliar.
Just a matter of aligned interests.
It wasn’t an excuse. Mu Yeonjun truly knew nothing of the Black Flags or the Black Heaven Young Master. To remedy that ignorance, allying with him was the most efficient path. By waiting here.
As long as he didn’t lose along the way.
‘You’ll come eventually.’
Mu Yeonjun erased the absent Wi Seongcheon from his mind. He focused clearly on the Black Heaven Young Master. His Heavenly Eye saw the massive qi writhing ceaselessly within the man’s body.
‘His brother.’
Amid all his ignorance.
Mu Yeonjun particularly wanted to know about the Black Heaven Young Master’s relationship with Wi Seongcheon.
* * *
A forest adjacent to the coast. This was where the rationalists and Three Star Apostles lived. Self-sufficiency was still required, just like everywhere else, but it was far more livable than the pure seaside. At least water was easy to obtain here, along with fruits, herbs, beasts, and insects—plenty of food sources.
Upon reaching Four Star Apostle, one could cross that forest to live in the ‘village.’ Once in the village, there was no more need to roam the woods for water or food.
The village had wells, and every morning, carts loaded with rations arrived.
The rations weren’t free. Apostles received ‘money’ each month based on their star count. Living in the village meant finally being able to spend the money they’d hoarded until now. Four Star Apostles never went hungry for lack of funds.
But greed knows no bounds. The village saw more fights—and deaths treated as natural—than the coast or forest.
Yet the city inside the ‘walls,’ accessible only from Five Star Apostles onward, was peaceful and comfortable, as if rewarding all the prior harshness.
The city within the walls was the only place in the Black Forest where ‘fighting’ was forbidden. To fight, one had to first draft Blood Duel Writs with the opponent and get them notarized.
In other words, if one stayed in the city without drafting a writ, there was no threat to life. Five Star Apostles received far more money, enough to indulge in the city’s pleasures without want.
“It’s a sieve.”
Wi Seongcheon was in a mansion. Far more luxurious than any Heavenly Flower Sect building, but in this city, it wasn’t anything special.
All mansions given to incoming Apostles were this opulent.
“Right.”
Night had deepened, but neither Wi Seongcheon nor Baekrihyang felt like sleeping. They sat across from each other at an empty dining table, conversing.
“This city is a rest stop for Apostles who barely made it here—and a trap that makes them abandon the competition. Those not desperate, content with the present, get drunk on the comfort here.”
Apostles outside the walls waged brutal survival struggles. Survive that, gather five stars, enter the city... and they soak in the long-forgotten comforts until intoxicated.
“Then they stop competing. No Blood Duel Writs, no venturing outside the walls. But you can’t live like that forever.”
“Homesickness?”
“That too. Most Apostles here are teens at youngest, twenties at oldest. They miss home, parents... things beyond the Black Forest.”
Five Star Apostles could leave for the outside.
Which meant exiting the walls.
“Those drunk on homesickness who step out get mobbed by other Apostles right away. You can’t ambush with a Blood Duel Writ, but if they leave the walls on their own, it’s fair game.”
Homesickness wasn’t the only lure drawing Apostles out. At irregular intervals, some city Apostles ‘won’ a Blood Ticket. Refusing one was impossible.
Blood Ticket winners had to exit the walls for four days. Most who drew one died.
“Enjoy the city’s pleasures, but don’t get drunk on them. Don’t let homesickness weaken your mind. You never know when a Blood Ticket might hit, so stay sharp and keep training.”
Fail that, and you’d end up dead, fertilizer for other Apostles.
“Have you ever gotten a Blood Duel Writ?”
“Nope.”
“Blood Ticket?”
“Once, a year ago. But no one targeted me.”
Baekrihyang chuckled. The Black Demon King hadn’t taken her as a disciple but acknowledged her as a daughter. So Apostles neither challenged nor harmed her.
“But things will change now.”
“Probably. The fighting’s mine now, not yours.”
Wi Seongcheon said flatly. Baekrihyang’s eyes turned icy.
“I can fight too.”
“You can, sure. But you won’t be much help.”
“Are you insulting me right now?”
“Just clarifying. You’re decently strong, but not that strong. Bluntly, it wouldn’t take me five breaths to subdue you.”
Wi Seongcheon spread his palm wide and held it out to Baekrihyang. Her brows furrowed.
She rose from her seat as if to retort, but in that instant, his hand shot out.
Paak!
The wind from his motion tousled Baekrihyang’s hair.
“Not even five breaths—one would suffice.”
Wi Seongcheon’s palm halted right before her throat. Baekrihyang stared down at it without blinking, then slowly nodded.
“...Any excuses?”
“Caught you off guard? This is a no-fight city, so no need to guard against ambushes. But your reaction tells me even without surprise, one breath to kill you.”
“Fine, you’re great. Hidden Dragon. I’m no help in fights. Happy?”
“Very. Stay put and don’t get in the way.”
“...No plans to gain more stars, huh?”
“Let’s get the words right. They’re ‘your stars.’”
Wi Seongcheon smirked and lowered his extended hand. Baekrihyang smoothed her furrowed brows and grinned back.
“‘Our stars.’ We’re allied, so we share them.”
“With Black Heaven Young Master in the forest, no need to rush more stars, right?”
“You said let’s be clear. Good point. So I’ll be blunt too, no holding back. You can’t beat Black Heaven Young Master.”
Baekrihyang’s smile turned mocking.
“Since coming to this Black Forest, he’s stacked stars at record speed. He’s already at five stars but hasn’t entered the city. He’s holed up in that forest ruin, taking on other Apostles’ challenges.”
“So what?”
“A week ago, Black Flag Two Ghosts Yang Jeon challenged him. Barely escaped with his life.”
The Black Heaven Young Master hadn’t taken Yang Jeon’s stars.
“But the fight was one-sided. They say he toyed with Two Ghosts Yang Jeon like a child.”
“Two Ghosts lost doesn’t mean I’d lose to Black Heaven Young Master. That’s a huge leap.”
“Then tell me. Can you beat him?”
“No.”
Wi Seongcheon shook his head immediately. Baekrihyang giggled at the answer.
“See? No need to challenge him right away. While we’re at it, the central Black Flags are probably plotting how to take him down.”
The city’s center was off-limits even to Five Star Apostles. Entry started at Six Star and up. The center was Black Flag territory.
“Or maybe they’ll just charge in blindly. To track that, don’t you think we need center access?”
“Be honest. You want to become a Six Star Apostle.”
“Yeah. I want Six Star.”
Baekrihyang dropped the subtle coaxing.
“So help me out?”
“Don’t meddle in what I do. Don’t order me around. Forgot already?”
“Not meddling or ordering. A request. Say no if you want.”
“Not a no.”
Baekrihyang squinted at Wi Seongcheon’s grinning reply. She stared at him with a puzzled look, then sighed deeply and nodded.
“...Blood Tickets are random. But it’s been a while since the last one, so someone’s due soon. Knowing Father’s temperament, tomorrow.”
He’d set the stage to ignite competition. The tempting rewards were ready. As Baekrihyang said, with the Black Demon King’s personality, he’d scatter Blood Tickets tomorrow to set the city’s Apostles rampaging.
“Better if you draw one.”
Wi Seongcheon teased as Baekrihyang left the room. She let out a hollow laugh but didn’t turn back.
The door closed.
“For real.”
Not idle talk. If she drew a Blood Ticket, other Apostles might finally target her. No more kid-gloves treatment as the Black Demon King’s daughter.
Then Wi Seongcheon could protect her while counterattacking the assailants. Blood Ticket times were prime for fastest star gains and promotions in the city.
When one appeared, many Apostles advanced—and far more died as fodder.
‘Six Star...’
Wi Seongcheon rose and stood by the window. The city’s pleasure-lit panorama sprawled below. The center beyond was shielded by low walls, but mansions towering higher revealed the opulent core.
“Gotta get in.”
Wi Seongcheon nodded to himself.
Even without Baekrihyang’s request, he had to reach Six Star.
To enter the center.